Psst!

"Psst!" The young woman brought her index finger to her lips. I looked around but she was obviously addressing me. I didn't know her. She was attractive; dark hair, early twenties maybe. Not the typical weirdo or homeless person you'd meet in an underground station.

"What?" I asked, whispering involuntarily. "Listen!" she replied. I paused and listened. It was silent. Completely silent. Which, if you imagine your typical underground station, was unusual and indeed worth pointing out. There were no people except for us and a woman on the opposite platform, but she was absorbed in her book and didn't make a sound. No trains were coming. Even the escalators at the end of the platforms had stopped.

I nodded, not wanting to puncture the silence. She smiled at me, happy that I had noticed. She closed her eyes and just stood there, completely at ease with herself and this silent part of the world. Without thinking, I followed her example and closed my eyes, too.

With heightened senses, I still couldn't hear a thing. Astounding. How could an underground station, in the middle of a busy city, in the middle of the day, be so quiet? My other senses made themselves known. I felt the heavy coat I was wearing, since it was cold outside. But not inside of here. Here, the temperature was just right. Any warmer and I would have sweated. Any colder and I would have shivered. The bag over my shoulder pressed down on me. Should I take it off? But I didn't want to move, not now.

It began to feel like I was floating. No sound, no smell, a neutral temperature; no sight either, since I still had my eyes closed. Completely detached, in the middle of the day, in the middle of the city.

And then the spell broke as the sound of an approaching train began to make itself known; in the distance at first, but coming closer fast. I snapped out of it and opened my eyes, looking for the young woman. She was nowhere to be seen; I was alone on this platform. The woman on the opposite platform was still there, still buried in her book.

My train arrived. People were getting off. I took a last look around for the young woman before stepping into the train. The doors closed behind me and we were off.

Photo by duygu (CC BY), taken from the Briefing Cards card deck and used as the inspiration for this story.
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