A local county events brochure forgotten by a television long since left on screams "look what I've done while you've been gone." As I tiptoe around the rested silence of those who've stayed and made their lives here, the shortest day of the year says "move along."
But I anticipate the day that I'm not just waiting for a change to follow this string of nights that tie these obligations like a name around my wrist. When "catch your breath but don't get caught with it" is sold on every billboard between Hinckley and Highway 23, is it directed at me? Instead of suburban wasteland refugees?
Because the only set of headlights on this road has no mirrored glimpse of the road home and you won't answer your phone this evening.
Catch your breath but don't get caught with it and tell yourself that it's easy to forget.