The brutal thing about expectations
is that they're never right beforehand.
They don't whisper a warning,
they don't knock onbthe door.

They simply arrive
unannounced,
without asking,
and come in.

They sit at your table
as if they belong,
put their feet up on the chair
and look at you
as if you are the one
who's late.

You pour the coffee,
knowing better.
They linger
until you forget
what it was like
without them.