I walk behind two women.
They are in no hurry and do not notice that they are blocking my way.
I feel as if I'm breathing their discarded air.
The cloud of perfume is so thick that is almost has its own color.
The two of them are so absorbed in their words; they do not notice or care.
They seem to be as one in their companionable stroll down the hall together.
One is quite a bit shorter than the other and turns to gaze up at the other as she laughs.
Her much taller friend stoops as she walks as if to make sure that her tiny ally
is not left out of her joke. She gets it.
I slow down and stroll behind them and absorb the cloud and am lighter for it.
-jlm
