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Sharing A Stranger's Misery In Penn Station.


There was a guy, maybe 25 or 26, clean cut and well dressed, who I noticed leaning up against a column by the waiting area, with a look of absolute desperation on his face. I discreetly moved closer to him to see what was going on, and all I hear is "baby please don't leave me" before the line on the other end of the phone goes dead. He looks at the screen, and it's clear the call is over before his plea ever got answered. He lowers his head against the column and quietly begins to sob right in the middle of Penn Station on a busy Sunday afternoon. I look around and absolutely nobody seems to notice this guy and his obvious pain. They say in a city people are too busy or rushed to care, and here I am the only one in all of Penn Station who seems to take notice. Maybe it's because I feel him more than he realizes. Maybe it's comforting to me knowing that someone else feels your pain, even if they don't realize it. He finally pulls himself together, the occasional tear still running from his eye and disappears into the mass of people waiting in line for a train bound for Boston. I know the feeling man, even if you don't know it.

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methodwriter85

Posted

I remember being in the library once, and this good-looking college guy was ranting on the phone to what I'm assuming was his now-ex as he ranted that he would rather spend a night in the homeless shelter than spend any more time with his ex.

Myk

Posted

That's also just very much a NYC state of mind. People live their lives very publicly and people have adapted to be oblivious to it. From a couple having an argument in union square as morning commuters just walk passed them to people peeing in the middle of the square outside my brothers office building. From the dad who looks around the subway nervously after his daughter in dance clothes announces she has an "itchy bottom" to the guy master bating onto a tree in broad daylight.

 

It's strange overall but it's also nice to know that a few people are still human in the crowd. Afterall even in NYC every once in awhile someone smiles when you hold the door, instead of surprising ambivalence.

Fishwings

Posted

This breaks my heart. I love your blogs Matt!

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