It was three hours before the exam
She was packing her bag, arranging things
Notebooks and pens and a bottle of water
A phone on silent, so it never rings

She was packing her bag, arranging things
She pushed quiet hope away for now
A phone on silent, so it never rings
Her husband's voice; "everything will be okay"

She pushed quiet hope away for now
She drove carefully, trying to focus on the task at hand
Her husband's voice; "everything will be okay"
All exams somehow converging, tumbling into one another

She drove carefully, trying to focus on the task at hand
She thought of Leaving Cert, of countless job interviews
All exams somehow converging, tumbling into one another
She was early, too early, too soon, she needed more time

It was three hours before the exam
But this was not the final exam
Notebooks and pens and a bottle of water
Feeling still, always, underprepared