Strangers

The early-morning sun is warm against Daisy’s skin as she crosses the street towards the metro station. A gentle wind sends strands of her blonde hair flowing behind her. She pushes open the doors of the station and walks inside, blinking as her eyes adjust to the dim lighting. The dingy old station, with its cracked paint and stale smell, is already busy with passengers. Some wear business suits, talking too loudly on their cell phones for this time of morning and using words that Daisy doesn’t understand. Their voices fade into the background when she slips on her headphones. They fit snugly on her ears, transforming her surroundings into a dull muffle as she continues to look around her. There is a nurse with a coffee in her hand, yawning as she waits for the train. There are students, like Daisy, with their backpacks and their books. Some wear sweatpants or leggings and hoodies. Others dress in more elaborate ways, wearing jeans and fancy tops, or skirts and dresses. Their eyes are all sleepy and glazed over, still waking up. A woman walks by with her heels clacking against the tiled floor. A boy rests on a bench, sleeping with his head lolled to one side. Daisy tugs the sleeves of her hoodie over her hands and feels the swish of her baggy jeans against her legs. She stops a little way down the station and leans against the wall to wait.

It’s November, almost the end of the fall semester. Final exams and assignments loom in the near future, and Daisy is swamped with essays, projects, and presentations. These days, her daily trip to the university is one she finds strangely calming. Here, she can be with her headphones on, all alone. Here, being alone doesn’t seem strange. It’s not like it is in classes, where everyone always seems to have someone to sit with, chatting about their lives in that casual way that people can talk when they see each other every day. Daisy knows it’s a weird sentiment. A relic from her high school days, where sitting alone was a damning thing to do. But she’s been out of high school now for longer than she would like, and university life is completely different. Still, the old feelings remain. Clinging to her like pieces of lint on an old pair of black leggings. At least in these early mornings, she can blend into the crowd. Just another commuter on her way someplace.

Daisy makes her way to the train and sits down in an empty seat. She looks around. For an early-morning train, this one is relatively empty. Even as the doors close, some seats are still unfilled. She pulls out her phone, leaning against the wall next to her. There is a long way to go before reaching the university, but she makes the commute every morning.

The train begins to move and the world around it becomes a blur. Daisy turns up the music on her headphones and lets the train rock her into a sleepy morning haze. After a minute or so, they arrive at the next stop. She looks up as the passengers make their way inside.

And, there he is.

Daisy feels her heart sink to her stomach. She looks back down at her phone, unsure of what to do. Out of the corner of her eyes, she sees him sit down. He didn’t notice her, does she want him to? All at once, Daisy feels two years younger. Like her past self has woken up in her nineteen year old body. She can already feel the fabric of her flowy dress, hear the laughter and feel the summer breeze on her face. And it’s all because of a boy on the train.