soaked in the cold air of a recent snow day, I sat on my window ledge with a crumpled copy of the internship certificate in my hand, feeling that familiar, heavy weight of being left behind inside someone else's head. it's not like I never got the job. I know. I got the interview, walked through the door of that company, and smiled when the HR manager handed me the paper and said, "Welcome aboard, good luck." and then they gave me a tour of the site, showed me the new manager's office, and told me to keep the certificate safe. I didn't ask for a specific time. I just said I'd look for it when I'm done with the site visit. I didn't stress about it. I didn't need the specific phone number or the exact time slot because I knew I'd come back three days later. I just needed the paper. sitting there now, the paper is gone. it's not like I lost it on the bus or dropped it in the office. I've been gone for three days. the office is empty, the paperwork is scattered on desks, and the site visit was all about showing me how the new manager did his job. I don't think the HR person asked for the certificate specifically. I think they just wanted to see how I fit in, how I'm not like the other candidates who had their stuff in their pockets and either left it behind or dropped it while walking. I didn't want to lose the paper. I just wanted to leave the paper where I left it. I didn't want to be the weird one who had to explain, "I have a certificate." I just wanted to go home, shower, and sleep. the reality is, people always forget things in these jobs. it's so easy to get distracted. I was thinking about the weather, about my family, about what I'm going to get for dinner tomorrow. the paper is just paper now. it's just a piece of cardboard with my name on it. I don't know who the HR person is. I don't know who the new manager is. I don't know which building this is in. I just know I'm here somewhere. I'm here with the new manager, who told me to keep it safe, and the site manager, who was nice. the site manager said, "keep it safe, keep it safe." and I think they meant that in the way people say things when they don't mean it. the certificate is just a piece of paper now. it's heavy, it's cold, and it's almost gone. I've been here three days. I don't know if the HR person has it. I don't know if the new manager has it. I don't know if the site manager has it. I don't know if anyone else has it. I don't know where it is. I don't know when I'm going to find it. I don't know if I'm going to have to explain, "I have to look for my certificate." I don't know if I'm going to have to show an HR person, "I lost my certificate." I don't know if I'm going to have to write a letter, "I have a certificate." and ask for it again. I don't know if I'm going to have to email the HR person, "I lost my certificate," and ask for it again. I don't know if I'm going to have to get to the old office. I don't know if the HR person is still there. I don't know if the new manager is still there. I don't know if the site manager is still there. I know people always forget things in these jobs. it's so easy to get distracted. I was thinking about the weather, about my family, about what I'm going to get for dinner tomorrow. the paper is just paper now. it's just a piece of cardboard with my name on it. I don't know who the HR person is. I don't know who the new manager is. I don't know which building this is in. I just know I'm here somewhere. I'm here with the new manager, who told me to keep it safe, and the site manager, who was nice. the site manager said, "keep it safe, keep it safe." and I think they meant that in the way people say things when they don't mean it. I know people always forget things in these jobs. it's so easy to get distracted. I was thinking about the weather, about my family, about what I'm going to get for dinner tomorrow. the paper is just paper now. it's just a piece of cardboard with my name on it. I don't know who the HR person is. I don't know who the new manager is. I don't know which building this is in. I just know I'm here somewhere. I'm here with the new manager, who told me to keep it safe, and the site manager, who was nice. the site manager said, "keep it safe, keep it safe." and I think they meant that in the way people say things when they don't mean it. I know people always forget things in these jobs. it's so easy to get distracted. I was thinking about the weather, about my family, about what I'm going to get for dinner tomorrow. the paper is just paper now. it's just a piece of cardboard with my name on it. I don't know who the HR person is. I don't know who the new manager is. I don't know which building this is in. I just know I'm here somewhere. I'm here with the new manager, who told me to keep it safe, and the site manager, who was nice. the site manager said, "keep it safe, keep it safe." and I think they meant that in the way people say things when they don't mean it. I know people always forget things in these jobs. it's so easy to get distracted. I was thinking about the weather, about my family, about what I'm going to get for dinner tomorrow. the paper is just paper now. it's just a piece of cardboard with my name on it. I don't know who the HR person is. I don't know who the new manager is. I don't know which building this is in. I just know I'm here somewhere. I'm here with the new manager, who told me to keep it safe, and the site manager, who was nice. the site manager said, "keep it safe, keep it safe." and I think they meant that in the way people say things when they don't mean it. I know people always forget things in these jobs. it's so easy to get distracted. I was thinking about the weather, about my family, about what I'm going to get for dinner tomorrow. the paper is just paper now. it's just a piece of cardboard with my name on it. I don't know who the HR person is. I don't know who the new manager is. I don't know which building this is in. I just know I'm here somewhere. I'm here with the new manager, who told me to keep it safe, and the site manager, who was nice. the site manager said, "keep it safe, keep it safe." and I think they meant that in the way people say things when they don't mean it. I know people always forget things in these jobs. it's so easy to get distracted. I was thinking about the weather, about my family, about what I'm going to get for dinner tomorrow. the paper is just paper now. it's just a piece of cardboard with my name on it. I don't know who the HR person is. I don't know who the new manager is. I don't know which building this is in. I just know I'm here somewhere. I'm here with the new manager, who told me to keep it safe, and the site manager, who was nice. the site manager said, "keep it safe, keep it safe." and I think they meant that in the way people say things when they don't mean it. I know people always forget things in these jobs. it's so easy to get distracted. I was thinking about the weather, about my family, about what I'm going to get for dinner tomorrow. the paper is just paper now. it's just a piece of cardboard with my name on it. I don't know who the HR person is. I don't know who the new manager is. I don't know which building this is in. I just know I'm here somewhere. I'm here with the new manager, who told me to keep it safe, and the site manager, who was nice. the site manager said, "keep it safe, keep it safe." and I think they meant that in the way people say things when they don't mean it. I know people always forget things in these jobs. it's so easy to get distracted. I was thinking about the weather, about my family, about what I'm going to get for dinner tomorrow. the paper is just paper now. it's just a piece of cardboard with my name on it. I don't know who the HR person is. I don't know who the new manager is. I don't know which building this is in. I just know I'm here somewhere. I'm here with the new manager, who told me to keep it safe, and the site manager, who was nice. the site manager said, "keep it safe, keep it safe." and I think they meant that in the way people say things when they don't mean it. I know people always forget things in these jobs. it's so easy to get distracted. I was thinking about the weather, about my family, about what I'm going to get for dinner tomorrow. the paper is just paper now. it's just a piece of cardboard with my name on it. I don't know who the HR person is. I don't know who the new manager is. I don't know which building this is in. I just know I'm here somewhere. I'm here with the new manager, who told me to keep it safe, and the site manager, who was nice. the site manager said, "keep it safe, keep it safe." and I think they meant that in the way people say things when they don't mean it. I know people always forget things in these jobs. it's so easy to get distracted. I was thinking about the weather, about my family, about what I'm going to get for dinner tomorrow. the paper is just paper now. it's just a piece of cardboard with my name on it. I don't know who the HR person is. I don't know who the new manager is. I don't know which building this is in. I just know I'm here somewhere. I'm here with the new manager, who told me to keep it safe, and the site manager, who was nice. the site manager said, "keep it safe, keep it safe." and I think they meant that in the way people say things when they don't mean it. I know people always forget things in these jobs. it's so easy to get distracted. I was thinking about the weather, about my family, about what I'm going to get for dinner tomorrow. the paper is just paper now. it's just a piece of cardboard with my name on it. I don't know who the HR person is. I don't know who the new manager is. I don't know which building this is in. I just know I'm here somewhere. I'm here with the new manager, who told me to keep it safe, and the site manager, who was nice. the site manager said, "keep it safe, keep it safe." and I think they meant that in the way people say things when they don't mean it. I know people always forget things in these jobs. it's so easy to get distracted. I was thinking about the weather, about my family, about what I'm going to get for dinner tomorrow. the paper is just paper now. it's just a piece of cardboard with my name on it. I don't know who the HR person is. I don't know who the new manager is. I don't know which building this is in. I just know I'm here somewhere. I'm here with the new manager, who told me to keep it safe, and the site manager, who was nice. the site manager said, "keep it safe, keep it safe." and I think they meant that in the way people say things when they don't mean it. I know people always forget things in these jobs. it's so easy to get distracted. I was thinking about the weather, about my family, about what I'm going to get for dinner tomorrow. the paper is just paper now. it's just a piece of cardboard with my name on it. I don't know who the HR person is. I don't know who the new manager is. I don't know which building this is in. I just know I'm here somewhere. I'm here with the new manager, who told me to keep it safe, and the site manager, who was nice. the site manager said, "keep it safe, keep it safe." and I think they meant that in the way people say things when they don't mean it. I know people always forget things in these jobs. it's so easy to get distracted. I was thinking about the weather, about my family, about what I'm going to get for dinner tomorrow. the paper is just paper now. it's just a piece of cardboard with my name on it. I don't know who the HR person is. I don't know who the new manager is. I don't know which building this is in. I just know I'm here somewhere. I'm here with the new manager, who told me to keep it safe, and the site manager, who was nice. the site manager said, "keep it safe, keep it safe." and I think they meant that in the way people say things when they don't mean it. I know people always forget things in these jobs. it's so easy to get distracted. I was thinking about the weather, about my family, about what I'm going to get for dinner tomorrow. the paper is just paper now. it's just a piece of cardboard with my name on it. I don't know who the HR person is. I don't know who the new manager is. I don't know which building this is in. I just know I'm here somewhere. I'm here with the new manager, who told me to keep it safe, and the site manager, who was nice. the site manager said, "keep it safe, keep it safe." and I think they meant that in the way people say things when they don't mean it. I know people always forget things in these jobs. it's so easy to get distracted. I was thinking about the weather, about my family, about what I'm going to get for dinner tomorrow. the paper is just paper now. it's just a piece of cardboard with my name on it. I don't know who the HR person is. I don't know who the new manager is. I don't know which building this is in. I just know I'm here somewhere. I'm here with the new manager, who told me to keep it safe, and the site manager, who was nice. the site manager said, "keep it safe, keep it safe." and I think they meant that in the way people say things when they don't mean it. I know people always forget things in these jobs. it's so easy to get distracted. I was thinking about the weather, about my family, about what I'm going to get for dinner tomorrow. the paper is just paper now. it's just a piece of cardboard with my name on it. I don't know who the HR person is. I don't know who the new manager is. I don't know which building this is in. I just know I'm here somewhere. I'm here with the new manager, who told me to keep it safe, and the site manager, who was nice. the site manager said, "keep it safe, keep it safe." and I think they meant that in the way people say things when they don't mean it.