Staying

It's not as easy as it seems

To not pack

To not fly

To not leave

There is comfort in the familiar

Ease in the neighborhood

Beauty in the traffic

And even in the chaos

Yet there is emptiness

In the fullness of the suitcases

The rooms echo

And the treasures have new homes

And you live to see it

Because you stayed

It's not your time

The seasons haven't changed for you

The world keeps spinning

The coffee keeps dripping 

The students keep coming

But the new normal has yet to set in

And suddenly, it seems like it's been years

Like they've been gone for centuries

And people have forgotten their names

But you haven't

Staying. 

Not a permanent act

But for now its reality

And tears are accepted

Goodbyes seem easier when you get on a plane

When you escape to an alternate universe

Where no one knows their names

Only you

The streets sound different today

The clouds seem grayer

The mountains further away

And yet, you stayed