When I finished the story, I felt her crumbling. A great deal of effort went into not having to communicate in any meaningful way with other humans. I've always thought that chronically late people do that to control the situation, and this character controls her interactions with others by being late. I see the bad habit as shunning human contact, and being late is one of her tools for effecting that. Even when folks reach out, as Edwin did, she finds some way to push them away. Being late is sort of a strength in this story, in that she gets what she wants, isolation, by doing it.

This is a very sad story. I feel so much pain in her. That line about being a teacher shows her childhood evaporating really struck me.

Excellent portrayal of a very sad and lonely person, who probably presents as a simple snob. Wonderful submission to the challenge AG. A very compelling story.