faces in the same places.

when i took the diversey brown line train every morning, it was always hot and crowded and full of unfamiliar faces because you'd be on the train with whoever managed to squeeze under someone's arm or shimmy themselves up against someone's back or plow through however possible. now i take the belmont brown line train. because the belmont station is a hub for both red lines and brown lines, the brown line train that arrives usually unloads dozens of passengers who run quickly to the other side of the platform to hop on a red, allowing me to step into a cool train and take my favorite position - leaning against one of the glass walls, facing forward.

but that wasn't my original point. the belmont trains are cool and less crowded and full of familiar faces. i am beginning to think i am unknowingly following a precise minute-by-minute walk from my apartment to the train; crossing the street after identical turns of the crosswalk signs, traversing the steps at the same speed, and catching the same train each morning -- and so is everyone else.

some days, on the way from the train circa 5:30PM, i pass the same people on the sidewalk that i passed going the opposite direction that morning. like the girl with the cropped brown hair and the green scrubs and the pink crocs.

and almost every afternoon, just before i reach my building, i pass the guy with the too-small-for-his-already-petite-body-backpack that must contain a large bottle of ice, because i heard the crinkling sound each time he passes by.

on some days, this bothers me. i don't want to see the same people every day. i like remaining anonymous and familiarity when really there is no familiarity is kind of uncomfortable. on other days, i like that i'm sharing some common piece of my day with these strangers. i could be in any other city, on some other street, but i'm not, i'm right here. and so are they.