just another day at the office...

confused, might describe it
hurt might as well
oh, what a day
what a day

i won't go into details

to do so would be neither
smart
nor
appropriate
but it goes without saying
that to be laid off from your job
then told it was just a mistake
all in the course of a day
is a situtation
that I've never found myself in before

a thank you and a week's severance
are all there is to cling to
with a handshake
and a goodbye
your only friends

shell-shocked
embarrassed
ashamed
all of these flood the edges of my brain
as i sit
prisoner to the office that holds me
afraid to exit at all
unable to look anyone in the face

"not our department"
"budget cuts"
"number crunching"

elsewhere

luckily for us,
an error on their part
could happen to anyone
i am sure

we are safe
but
corporate america
my lord
these kinds of mistakes
should not be taken lightly
a full apology
expected
soon
but wouldn't be surprised
if all i get is an email
"oops"
"we'll need your schedule for the upcoming week"
"sincerely..."

is it possible for something to be
"unexpected" and "typical"
at the same time?

i guess we'll wait and see
bright and early in the morning

but in the meantime
i will remind myself
quietly yet often
that
i matter, i'm human
and

i am not a number.