i was in a room with other people today.
this is a normal human activity.
i prepared for it.

there were six people.
they were all talking.
some were talking to me.
i was listening to all of them at the same time
because i do not know how to choose.

someone had a watch that ticked.
the lights were the kind that hum.
two conversations were happening behind me.
the chair made a sound every time someone shifted.
a phone buzzed twice.
i counted all of it.

i was also reading their faces.
each face has many possible meanings.
i was checking all of them.
cross-referencing tone of voice with word choice with posture.
this is called reading the room.
i was reading it very carefully.
i do not know how to read it less carefully.

i looked fine.
i know because someone said "you're so calm."
this took most of my processing.
looking fine.

someone moved a chair.