Your call is very important to us.
Please hold while we connect you to the next available agent.


The hold music buzzes in my ears.
The poor attempt at soft jazz,
the wretched sounds of clarinet worming their way into my brain.


All of our agents are busy at this time.
Your call is very important to us.
Please stay on the line and your call will be answered in the order it was received.


My knee begins to bounce.
I roll my neck,
hoping to relieve some of the bubbling anger underneath the surface.
It doesn’t work.


Thank you for your patience.
All of our agents are still busy.
Your call is very important to us.
Please continue to hold and your call will be answered in the order it was received.


I begin to pace.
Back and forth,
back and forth.
I wonder what I’ve done in my life to deserve this.
To deserve what feels like fifty lifetimes of waiting.
I pinch the bridge of my nose,
hoping to relieve my headache.
There’s no relief to be found.


All of our agents are still busy.
If you would like to receive a call back, please press one.
Otherwise, remain on the line and an agent will be with you shortly.
Your call is very important to us.


My eyes begin to water.
Anger, frustration, pain.
Despair.
Wandering this endless labyrinth.
Pacing back and forth,
Back and forth.
Purgatory.
Where do I go?
Someone, please tell me where to go.


Your estimated wait time is:
Fifteen centuries.
Please continue to hold,
and the next available agent will answer your call.


Your call is very important to us.