Hold On

coffee shop

the twenty-something

at the counter

offers me a bite of muffin

as a sample, cardamom

I wonder if he has

a post-it note

taped to his bathroom mirror or fridge,

like what people did

before posting inspirational quotes

to Instagram -

telling him he’s worthy

of something like love,

to be kind, to not lean over

and die at 5 o’clock

when his shift is done

and the customers

like myself

moving on

while he’s a barista

living for $15/hour

and minimal tips

his love interest

is with someone else,

he thinks of his post-it note

every waking minute

he needs confirmation

he’s not a corporate ghost,

a figment of her imagination