Drowning

It's 8:30 AM

The county courthouse

In a city I desperately avoid

Is the last place I want to be

Clearly

No one else wants to be here either

But it is our "civic duty"

To convene and wait to be chosen

Or not

I don't want to be chosen

I don't wish to be one of the aliens

Lucky enough to be chosen by the claw

It is not a prize

The prize would be leaving

This stuffy room

And not returning

Yet

I must sit here and wait

And wait

And wait

Watch informational videos

On jury duty

And unconscious bias

Apparently

The quote of the day is

"Awareness is fairness"

More like awareness is torture

Sitting here

Fully aware

Of wasted time

Stuck in a vacuum

Sequestered in a room

Forced to watch HGTV

On a loop

For hours

In this pool

I'm treading water

Trying to keep my head

Above the surface

My thoughts so empty

My body becomes buoyant

These home renovation shows

Become mind-numbing

Efficacious sedatives

Maybe that's the point

I feel myself staring

Watching

These mindless shows

Unable to look away

Unable to form

A creative thought

Oh, that's a nice kitchen!

Sterile white

Perfect tile

Elegant accents

In a completely realistic

Million-dollar home

That I could never afford

Wow, look at that huge bathroom!

Double shower

Jacuzzi tub

Heated floors

Does anyone even use those?

A great use of my time

My mental energy

But then I think

Maybe

Serving on a jury

Would be a unique experience

An opportunity

For creative fodder

To expand my mind

Think in a different way

More writing material

It is now 1:00 PM

Who am I kidding?

I just want to go home

Finally

The clerk announces

The following people

Are dismissed...

My name

A celebration

No shame

As others do the same

High tailing out the door

So much for the experience

I guess I'll just have to wait

Another three years