You can already feel the impending warmth, even this early in the morning.

Everyone looks so nice this morning. Almost fancy. Almost better than usual for work.

I listen and take notes. How do I use this information for myself, for understanding my relationships here? I wish we had taken the test for more context.

We give one another a hug before I depart. I wish I could stay and listen and learn. It's been a full morning of thinking and processing. In another life I would have been an academic.

So hot.

Emails before open gym.

Still a no-show. I have given up on this.

They try to rally but the girls’ last game ends in a loss. You can feel the weight disappointment.

We catch the last few innings of the high school play-off game. The hard thwack of the baseball. Watching it soar over the fence. The joyful eruption from the visiting team. Another loss.

I accept the ending of things.