I was walking towards him. the metal table rusted, bolted to the ground, his body shaded underneath the umbrella. we've never had a conversation before. but today feels right, natural. relevant. I formulated the syntax in my mind; so what did you think of the film we watched in class today? I carried my steps closer, the weight of thousands of years of literature within the bag on my back. before the words even escaped my lips, he removed his earbuds, released his pen, looked at me and said, so what did you think of the film we watched in class today? without a response I walked over to his right. dropped my worn leather bag and sat on the seat next to him. I sighed. energy. it hit me like the sun as it burned through the branches of the trees above us.