Cubicles in the Hallways of My Elementary School

Cubicles in the Hallways of My Elementary School

I was late for work and took the usual bus, except the route kept showing my old neighborhood instead of downtown. Same seats, same driver, but every stop was a street I grew up on. I got off at what should have been my office building and it was my elementary school mixed with the office lobby—cubicles in the hallways, my boss standing by the water fountain like a teacher. I tried to clock in on my phone and the screen kept flipping between today’s date and a Tuesday from high school. My coworker Maya was there, but she also felt like my cousin from back then, same voice. I kept looking for conference room B and the corridor stretched, doors repeating. I was embarrassed because I was still in my gym clothes from the morning. Someone asked if I was coming from the other version of the meeting. I didn’t know which one they meant. I just wanted to find my desk and sit down.