Lower Your Head

I just can't get my head straight. I skipped work today. I'm not sure where I thought I was going -- maybe nowhere -- but I took off on foot. After a while I noticed that the city seemed hushed. I heard no street arguments, no car horns. I went down into the subway and while it contained the usual number of people cris-crossing on their way to the moments of their lives, each was completely silent. There was no eye contact, everyone living that moment inside their own heads. Or perhaps nowhere.

I thought I caught a glimpse of a woman on the tracks, arms outstretched to receive the coming train. But then it arrived, and I wasn't so sure. Nobody else seemed to notice.