Paying Attention

I turn to walk,
my pace faster than usual.
The rocky path down is so familiar,
yet always so different —
depending on which way I walk it.

Two different routes,
though we always take
the same one.
Your earbuds are in,
and so are mine.
Even though technically
we’re walking together.

Quietly humming my music,
I turn back to say something,
and find your next to me
laughing.

And in this moment I realize,
we know that this path
is so familiar to know not to pay attention.
Though to walk in complete silence
with a friend who’s walked it with me multiple times.