I temp at a small firm while I finish coursework—not glamorous, steadier than commission, less likely to involve someone crying in a breakfast nook. When the fire alarm went off my body still thought maybe this is the one even though my brain had a spreadsheet open.
We assembled in the parking lot and made small talk about badges and whether the coffee was worth going back for. Someone had a laptop. Someone had the energy of a person who treats compliance like sport. The building did not burn.
We filed back in like nothing happened, which is the point and also deeply anticlimactic. I rated the drill seven out of ten. Good participation. Would stand outside again with a hat.
Routine interruptions remind you the day is fragile and funny. Text someone you like. Do not wait for an alarm.