Kitchen Slippers in the Endless Hallway of Windows

Kitchen Slippers in the Endless Hallway of Windows

I was late for work and took the elevator in our building, but it opened onto the grocery store parking lot. Dave from accounting was waiting in a dark jacket that looked almost like a uniform. He said we had to get to the briefing before the ship left, which I took as him meaning the 9 a.m. regional call. I kept hunting for the usual conference room, only the hallway went on forever and had those little round windows. My phone would not unlock so I could not check the invite. I realized I still had my kitchen slippers on and felt stupid. People were already sitting inside, looking out at what I thought were stars but were just the streetlights over the lot. I never found my seat and woke up worried I had missed the whole thing.