Two nights in Frankfurt. Work. Same bag. Same shoes. Same charger that lives half tangled. I told myself it didn’t count as going away. It was just work, somewhere else.
Airport was fine. Queue. Security. Nothing worth noting. I knew where I used to stop. Didn’t stop. Slowed down a bit. Moved on.
Outside the terminal there was the usual smell. I noticed it. Kept walking. That was that.
Frankfurt looked how it always does. Grey. Clean. Quiet. Hotel check-in took no time. Same chain as before. Same lift. Same room layout. I unpacked straight away without thinking about it.
Meetings filled the day. People talking quickly but not saying much. Everyone calm, everyone urgent. I realised there were no gaps. Before, I’d step out. Five minutes. Cigarette. Come back. Now it was meeting to meeting to email to call.
I used to think that was a break. It wasn’t. It was just somewhere to stand where no one could interrupt me.
Between meetings I ended up near the smoking area. Not deliberately. Just habit. Same spot. Same bin. I checked my pocket for a lighter. Didn’t have one. Felt stupid for checking.
Sara messaged while I was waiting for a taxi. Normal stuff. School. One of the twins having a moment. Leo quiet again. I read it. There was nothing I could do. Sent a practical reply.
In the evening I slowed down at a kiosk. Looked at gum. Didn’t need any. Stood there longer than necessary. Walked away.
Back in the hotel room I opened the window. Traffic noise. City doing its thing. I stood there because that’s when I used to smoke. Not because I wanted to smoke. Because that was the pause.
Didn’t feel good. Didn’t feel bad. Just tired. Slightly on edge.
Same inbox. Same work. Different weak spot.