The suggestion lands and something in you pulls back.

The boxes feel farther away than they did a moment ago.

Nothing rises to meet the question.

“Whatever you think,” you say.

“It doesn’t really matter to me.”

Your partner nods and begins placing things.

The room fills gradually, but from a distance.

Objects lose their edges and become part of the background.

You notice the movement without tracking where anything lands.

You stay in the space without entering the work.

There’s relief in not having to decide.

The project continues.

You’re no longer part of it.