Waiting to fly

 

People run to terminals

As best as they can —while dragging heavy bags

Others sleep

Or are zoned in to their screens and books

Like robots

 

Elevator music playing

Passengers in waiting— tiredly window shopping 

With no clear intent or interest

What time is it?

Doesn’t matter—you are in another country anyway

Hungry?

Not sure

So you buy an overpriced sandwich

Which would normally leave you feeling ripped off

But right now—you are too tired and confused to care

 

Strangers grouped together— in a  24-hour bubble

Involving every language—culture—and demographic

 

It would seem as though

Time is rushing by — in the outside world

While people’s lives here — have stopped entirely 

Within this strange little dome

 

A time to reflect 

Or perhaps — to ignore problems and normal realities

To chill—and smash out an entire series on Netflix

To feel free or trapped— or maybe both of these things

In the alternate universe— called ‘the airport’

While waiting to fly