A magical subway moment.
Today on the subway, I needed to rearrange some items I was holding, so I picked up my bag and put it on the seat next to me. I inadvertently placed it close to a guy I hadn’t initially seen.
"Oh, I’m sorry," I gesture, making space. He silently gestures back, indicating it’s alright. Though I had stood up to make the adjustments, I still had a few stops left on the subway. As a gesture of gratitude for his understanding, I nod at him. Then, unexpectedly, he begins gesturing things at me, initiating a silent conversation that lasts about seven minutes. While we don’t grasp everything, it feels like a magical moment.
The guy sits calmly, sipping a Red Bull. He gestures towards his drink and points to his heart, indicating that it causes discomfort and irregular heartbeats. I point to his drink and jokingly ask, "Does it give you wings?" referencing Red Bull’s iconic marketing slogan. He shakes his head somewhat ambiguously. So, I ask, "Does it give you wings first and then hurt your heart?" He gestures that it mostly hurts his heart.
I mimic a running motion and point to myself. He explains he doesn’t run due to an injury. Pointing to my imaginary watch, I mention being late and the risk of injury when running. He reiterates that he doesn’t run, pointing to the subway seat as if it were a couch, and gesturing towards his drink, explaining, "This is what I do." I had to exit at the next stop.
My phone battery is critically low, at 4%, and I have an old, unreliable battery. Despite the low battery warning, I’ve been streaming music wirelessly to my headphones the entire time. Mentally, my battery feels depleted. I wish my phone had enough power to capture a picture of the guy. Then it hits me—I’m still listening to music! Throughout our entire conversation, Lil Wayne has been playing in my ears, seamlessly blending into our interaction. Hastily, I ask him if I can take a photo, repeating myself for him to understand. I wait a few seconds before snapping the picture, then hurriedly exit, exchanging a significant goodbye. It’s a beautiful moment, unspoken.
Of course, I can’t resist the urge to document it for a potential blog post. I can’t help but feel conflicted about commodifying this intimate encounter. However, considering the current state of the New York City subway—sluggish, frequently delayed, and unkempt—it feels like a rare bright spot amidst the chaos. While it's true that the subway feels less safe than it used to, it’s not as dire as some media portray. Yet, it’s undeniably transformed, resembling a militarized zone. Despite its flaws, this encounter is a small, uplifting incident that I feel compelled to share, even if it means turning it into content. After all, it’s a beautiful moment, despite not a single word being exchanged.
My friend and his Red Bull. Before snapping the photo I was wondering how I’d have described him. I was going to say a Mike Ehrmantraut type. (Breaking Bad actor: Jonathan Banks)