remember

[maddethehermit]

 public transit is a glorious place. made the most intense connection i have ever made with a stranger today, with a boy. a lost freckly young european man on the bloor blue line. didn't know his name, didn't know where he was from. 
gave him directions- he was going to islington- royal york and islington- who knows? sat down behind me when the bus finally arrived. what- is it already 2:07? i can't believe i missed bloor st.- i'm getting off at wellesley!
he approaches me.. where is this guy from? 
...
and now we're on the bus. 
he squeezes my shoulder- was it my upper arm? - i remove my headphones (mgmt). his eyes are red, welling up with- tears? more about where he's going... and then - 
"i made a mistake.
"i made a mistake in my life.
"i made a mistake tonight".
and there in front of me, this grown man, only a few years older than myself, is actually crying. i reassure him about directions, make sure he knows that he can ask the bus driver if he's lost. 
but now we've arrived at bedford! 
i have to get off- i tell this to my new friend. 
we hug. 
i hug him and he hugs me back. 
"you're going to be fine," i tell him.
"you're going to be fine."