After You, Again — Zip Hoodie

You hold the door because they are close enough that not holding it would feel strange. Unfortunately, they are also far enough away to feel obliged to speed up. You both recognize the problem at the same time. They perform a brief apologetic trot. You look away to suggest that you haven't imposed any sort of deadline.

At the next door, they hold it for you. This seems fair, until the building reveals a third door and your relationship acquires a small history. You have now thanked each other several times. You know nothing about one another except that you both intend to behave well and have become slightly trapped by the success of that intention.

When you finally reach open air, you exchange a smile that is more familiar than the circumstances would normally allow. For about thirty seconds you were a team, with a repetitive task and very little training. You go your separate ways, carrying the pleasant aftereffect of having made a stranger's day marginally easier. A few paces later, someone catches the door for you. You pick up speed.

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