have you found everything you were looking for

the clerk, a young woman

with red hair

and a blush

of freckles on her lineless

face begins

to move my

groceries along the belt.

she seems neither happy

or sad,

but elsewhere.

she asks me

if i've found everything i was

looking for.

i think for a minute,

then tell her

that's such an existential question.

do you mean

here, in this store, or

are you talking

about life? life in general?

she doesn't respond,

but continues to ring up

my milk and bread,

shaving cream,

her fingers rapidly

clicking

onto numbers.

i've worried her.