morning on the subway,

published at 11:02am on 02/12/17

The hat lay on the floor of the subway car, just inside the doors. The young woman reached down and picked it up, looking at the older woman who was already halfway down the platform, unaware that as she was about to head out into the cold, her hat was on its way to the Bronx.

The young woman looked at me, standing midway between them. The doors chimed and the announcement came over the speaker: “Stand clear of the closing doors, please.”

We made eye contact and I reached my hands out to catch the hat, now arcing through the air, as it came sailing through the closing doors. My hands made contact as I saw the young woman, now behind glass, nod approvingly.

I ran down the platform to the older woman and tapped her on the shoulder. She turned, and I held her hat out to her. She smiled a thank you and I raced up the stairs into the winter morning.

Filed under: Personal

At 1:25 pm on 07.15.21, alyssa said,

i love encounters like this. one time i had my hands full (near-overflowing grocery bag in one, full cup of coffee in the other), but I dropped my phone in front of me and the stranger facing me. he just held out his hand, motioning to my coffee, which he held for me as i crouched to pick my phone. i’ll never forget it. i’m you won’t forget this.

At 1:25 pm on 07.15.21, alyssa said,

*i’m you won’t forget this

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