A Squared Plus B Squared Equals

It was empty, but I told myself it wasn't and just kept trying to extract the last few drops of whatever had been inside that container.

It was empty, but I just kept forgetting. Putting it to my lips and waiting for something real to land on my tongue.

It's not that I didn't know the answer. I just couldn't explain how I got it. Show your work. That's what they always told me in school. But getting there and explaining how you did are two entirely separate talents.

I always used to fill in the answer and then go back and draw in the path. I mean, doesn't that make sense? You can't draw the map before you know your destination.

But every once in a while I couldn't explain how I did.

Get there.

And people are the same. With all their right angles and perpendiculars. Where n is the unknown variable. (this)that over him(her) equals us.

But how did we get there. And how do we get back?