written at 6th and 11th, then 15 floors up on spring street

i sat in a cafe today

i went alone and walked until my feet hurt

followed a straight path until i heard clinking glasses

and loud laughs

so i turned right

and walked inside

asked for a table for one

and didn't feel uncomfortable

a woman stared at me as i seated myself in a booth

between a couple making compromises

if she wanted the booth

or if he wanted to split a burger

they didn't stay long

and she ended up sitting in the booth

leaving crumbs behind on the maroon coloured seat

and two middle aged men

both without wedding rings

knocking back fruity drinks

i wondered if they were gay

i read two chapters of a book and underlined

three lines i fell in love with

as i always do

and that woman continued to stare

as if she had never seen someone enjoying their own company

in her entire life

i drank two cups of coffee

i wondered if anyone else was here alone

or anywhere else in this city alone

quietly basking in comfort

and drowning their thoughts in caffeine

it looked like the wind from outside

was causing the ceiling fans to spin

i waited twenty minutes for the bill

and left a two dollar tip

the waiter was balding and sweating

maybe from overworking

who knows

i walked back quickly

taking photos of peoples backs

and of fallen branches in the street

i know they're nothing special

but i'll need reminders of this later

and now i'm hovering 15 floors over a stormy street

wind making the glass windows surrounding

one third of the room creak and groan

under their pressure

blowing in every direction

the building across the street is deserted

windows boarded and taped up

thin grey gutters in two of the windows

flap open as the gusts of wind grab them from underneath

making them surrender and slap against each other

and although i can't hear them

i know they're making a lot of noise

the sun just came out

for the first time in forty eight hours perhaps

and now everything feels new

i was worried about the windows smashing earlier

but that thought is long gone now

i think i've decided that we're only scared of heights

when we're put in situations that make us realize we should be scared