back 2 school

I appear with a half-covered face 

searching for familiar eyes 

They say we are all in this together 

yet our goal is to stay apart 

For better 

for worse 

a freshman at heart 

I stumble 

through the packed hallways of the second floor 

I smile with my mouth 

but forget it’s all in the eyes 

I laugh 

but forget that I’m not on mute 

I write 

with hands that have hibernated for almost 2 years 

constantly sticky from a 99.9% germ killer 

afraid to let go of the past 

I dance within a taped square 

Tik Tok should have prepared me for this 

patiently waiting

I walk 

up the wide steps, hoping for it all to come back naturally 

This is real life 

Right?