An Episode

Sometimes you have no choice. Take today's experience as a representative case. I stood in line at a library, with people both behind me and in front. At a moment, I sensed the young woman in front of me about to take a step forward. She did not, but I nonetheless had come one step closer to her, and the person behind me edged forward after me. What could I do but endure my reduced following distance? I did not dare take a step until someone else moved for real this time.