I put the key in the ignition and wait for my car to warm up. The windows are wet with dawn. My windshield wipers are old and leave streaks that make me regret my attempt at clarity. The construction workers huddle, their masks sliding down their noses as they plan out the day’s work. I wonder if I will ever stop measuring six feet of distance between people. A flash of last night’s dream comes to me—elbow bumping a stranger. Even in my sleep I cannot escape the pandemic. My car finally warms. I push the thoughts away and drive.
Tina Ehsanipour is an Iranian-born, California-raised writer and high school English teacher. Her writing has appeared in Nowruz Journal, In Short — The Podcast, and elsewhere. Find Tina at tinaehsanipour.com and on Twitter and Instagram @TinaEhsanipour.