soundtrack 

Wesley placed his duffle bag between his feet. He was one of the few passengers at the gate for his flight.

With funds exhausted, and no immediate job prospects on the horizon, he was planning to move back home with his mom to figure things out. The debt he amassed to earn his degree just wasn't making any sense right now.

He spanned his arms across the two adjacent seats and pulled his headphones over his ears. A curated playlist swelled to cocoon him in an audio oasis. It played track after track of 60s and 70s Soul that helped move the minutes forward.

On the seats across from him, an elderly couple began to argue. Wesley tracked their gestures without hearing their words. He was engulfed in his own personal soundtrack.

He surmised that this was a frequent occurrence for the couple; and that this trip was only compounding their frustration. 

Though Wesley overlooked from afar, there was a strange sense of comfort in knowing that he wasn’t alone, shouldering uncertain angst.

-m

May 24, 2020