Glimpses into the lives of others

On a train, going home from work:

Sitting on the train, headphones in and listening to tunes as is the norm on the journey to and from work. Stop at one station and people get on.

A couple sits down across from me. The girl looks tired. The guy looks concerned. On second glance the girl not only looks tired but ill. This may explain the guy's look of concern. No words are exchanged between the two, and I try not to stare blatantly - trying to figure out what the story may be. Instead I look at them via their reflection in the window - wishing I had my camera to capture this moment of complete humanness.

The girl is sitting with her eyes closed, breathing somewhat heavily - as one does with colds and flus. She holds his hand and rests her head on his shoulder. He, in turn rests his head on hers and holds her hand gently. Oh, so gently.

He turns. Looks at her. Eyes filled with concern. Minutes go by with him watching her and me watching them through the reflection in the window. He sits back in the seat pulls her a little closer and they both sit with their eyes closed.


On a platform, heading towards the exit:

Walking with all the other commuters along the station platform towards the exit. A father, son and daughter walk past me. The father is pulling along a bright pink duffel bag. The daughter is sitting atop the duffel bag and the son walks along the other side.

The little girl looks at her brother and raises her hand - giddy-up horsey!


On the train, stopped at the station and waiting to disembark:

Standing in the aisle, behind everyone wanting to get off. In the seat in front of me a guy is still sitting, typing away furiously on his mobile.

I glance down and take in posture - closed in on himself, sitting in the aisle seat but facing the window with his coat on the window seat. He is typing message after message. It appears that as the number of characters are reached he saves it and types another message.

I zone in on the phone and read the following:

"I've spent most of this journey typing a message you will never get"

My heart breaks silently as I'm standing in the aisle.

That one line I remember. There was more. It was seemed to be addressed to a girl who'd just broken up with him and he didn't understand why.

I get off the train, and shortly after glance back and see him get off with a big black suitcase. First thought - good looking. Second thought - I wonder where he is headed as he is clearly packed and off on a trip somewhere. Or moving.

In both cases he's suffering from a being dumped and my heart goes out to him even though he will never know.