Working

It doesn't take long for Ethan to figure out two things: The sorting system and why he's here.

The system is weird. While all shelves were alphabetically consistent they were split by year, and some years were on opposite sides of the room. It seemed to Ethan that before all this stuff was moved down here it must have been sorted properly, but in transition that was lost.

As for why Sam recruited him, it only took him putting one heavy box on a high shelf to figure that mystery out. Even with the step ladder, which Ethan definitely needed, Ethan didn't think Sam would be able to get a box up there. She must have gotten them down though, as most of the boxes on the ground did indeed go on those top shelves.

Before he's done getting them all away, Sam already starts asking for new boxes, sending Ethan every which way to get them. Sometimes she would ask him to fish out a specific file, other times she'd want the box on the desk in front of her and go through it herself. With a file in hand, she would start reading through it, her fingers clacking against her keyboard as she did.

She would never spend more than a few minutes with a file, suggesting to Ethan she is either a very fast reader, or she's only checking it over for a very specific bit of information.

After what feels like a few hours, Ethan finds himself able to take a small break, sitting at the table. All but one box is away, with Sam still working on a file from it, and she has yet to ask for another.

Sighing, Ethan feels the silence of the room oppressive, the only sound the dull hum of the lights and Sam's fingers on keys.

"Hey, uh..." Ethan clears his throat, "Can I ask you something?"

"About what we're doing, or a personal question?" She doesn't even look up, her tone flat.