The Waiting

Its like when the power goes out during the championship
game.

Its like falling and falling and falling off the swingset, and
bracing for a violent impact before jerking awake only to
realize it was a dream.

Its like someone who doesn't complete their conversations.
"So I saw Tina yesterday."
"Oh my god, what did she say?"
"Nothing. I just saw her."

Its like somebody who doesn't complete their sentences.
"Saw tina yesterday."
"What? Wait-- Who saw Tina yesterday?"

It's like when Katie Couric goes and interrupts a brand new
episode of your favorite show with Breaking News.

It's like when a hot guy reaches out for his receipt and you're
standing behind a bunch of tall people, craning your neck to
see if he's got a ring on his left hand.

Its like trying to hit those stupid moles with the padded
hammer at the arcade.

Its like waiting to catch a ball that's never thrown.

Its like temping at a company for three years, waiting for
them to declare they're transitioning you to a permanent
position.

Its like a climax that doesn't seem to resolve itself.

Its the end of the movie Lost in Translation.

Its the end of the book The Giver.

Its where you go through a huge maze of Indiana Jones
puzzles and boobie traps only to find out that the holy grail is a piece-of-crap tumbler from McDonalds.

Its that part of the fight where your muscles tense because
you know, any second, Brock Lesner really should be able to
beat the junk out of that Mexican guy.

Its going to the mail box every day for two months, looking
for your college acceptance letter.

Its the waiting.
Thats what I can't stand.
The waiting.
With my muscles tensed.
Staring at the blank, black screen.
Waiting impatiently for it to light up with your name.