we go through the motions
nods, hellos, & how are yous
eyes casting down not to impose
swallowed back into a mask that is saving humanity
but depriving us of dimples
a curl at the corner of a wink and a smile
warm creases telling jokes
knowing microexpressions
laugh lines
that dopamine rush of connectivity
that reminds us why
we fight to stay alive
what it is to be human
remember to look up
into my eyes