Through the wall

There is a sound coming through the wall.

You cannot make out the words. You can hear that there are words. You can hear the shape of sentences that are not the shape of ordinary sentences.

You are holding very still.

You are not sure when you stopped moving. You were doing something — the phone is still in your hand, the book is still open — but you have stopped.

Through the wall the sound continues. It is not your business.

You are not listening.

You are very still.