A young man
has sat on the seat opposite the woman narrating the story. He has been
listening to the narration for literally less than a minute when he cuts in. “He
is not for you. Let go.” The woman spontaneously laughs, feeling awkward. She
goes, “Do you think so?” “Definitely”, he replies.
Her friend
disembarks the train. She turns back to the guy. She debates on it for a second
and then takes a deep breath and asks him: “Why did you say that before? Is it
really that obvious that I shouldn’t waste my time that a stranger who has
heard nothing but a fraction of our conversation tells me to let go of him?”
He looks at
her carefully. He has an air of confidence and he is sure of what he says: “Yes”.
She sighs. “You’re
right.”
He: “What do you like about this person?”
She: “I don’t
know. All of him.”
He: “Where
is he?”
She: “Abroad.”
He: “And?”
She: “And
nothing.”
He: “He is
there on his own. And he is bored. And he messages you. That’s why he tells you
all those stupid, vague things. What do YOU want? Why do you want this person?
Do you think that perhaps you actually like that he is not here? Is it the
first time you are attracted to someone who is far away?”
She: *blushing*
“No.” (defensively) “But I didn’t know from the beginning that they would be
far away.”
He: “It
doesn’t matter. You are drawn to these people. Why is that? Because you DON’T
want a relationship.”
She: “I’m
not sure that’s true.”
He: “It
doesn’t matter. He is not here. If he comes here, you’ll take it from there.
And if he doesn’t come back? Will you waste your time? Keep your eyes open
here. And enjoy your time. Find someone who wants you and fights for you.
Someone who tells you ‘I want you, I want you, I want YOU.’ Someone who FIGHTS
for you. Because you deserve that.”
She,
looking down: “Thank you. That’s my stop.”
He: “Goodbye.
Remember to enjoy your time. Do not waste it.”
As she got off the train, she gave the guy one last look. Did he actually have a point about her not wanting a relationship?
She thought back to the people that she kept, again and again, choosing.
And then she stopped walking and remained at the platform, eyes wide open, watching the train leave and disappear into the distance.
