Old enemy.
In the pulp stories when two men who hate each other meet, one shouts the other's name and they begin to shoot at each other right then and there. In real life, you avoid eye contact and focus on your book. You feel the power of your previous confrontation drain from you because you weren't able to bring yourself into battle mode right there on the subway. And fuck it, I'm just trying to get home, fuck that guy. I already won the argument! Shouldn't he just fade away from existence?
Was it even that guy? What would you even say to him? You gloriously humbled him the last time you spoke. What would you say after that? "what up par? Heard your graphic novel came out. How'd that ever work out for you? How's the alcoholism treating you?"
The train stops and passengers queue up to exit and as you step aside to let the people through you notice the guy's head turn and then turn back. He leaves the train but he's thinking the same thing that you are. Suddenly the guy who brought all of his faults and flaws to the surface is just another person too nervous to talk. No words are exchanged but there is certainly an exchange in the power balance.
-Ayo2012.
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