the cave

During the summer I worked in the room that everyone in the office called the "cave". It was the design room. I was in there with three other designers. It was the quietest room in the office. You could hear everyone breathing. It was very rare anyone would ever ask any questions of each others personal lives. The only time I can remember anyone every talking about something other than work was when talked about the new comic book movie. Talking in that room was pretty rare. They were all very nice to me. I loved the smell of my co-workers daily morning drink.
One of the reasons everyone called that room the cave was because the lights were always off. Our computers were twenty four inch macs. It was such a big screen! Bigger than the TV we had at home. The screen was way too bright for me in the dark room. I turned my brightness down as low as it could go in hopes that I could protect my eyes. I couldn't understand why the lights were kept off, but of course as the newby I wouldn't be the one to turn the light on even though I was almost always the first one there every morning. I wanted them to like me and didn't want to throw off their groove. There was a day I was the last one in the "cave" so I decided to turn on the light. I sat back down at my computer and it was just like a mirror. Then I realized that was why the light was always kept off.
I learned to make the best of a work environment I wouldn't prefer and someday you'll realize the reasons why the conditions are that way.