My Always

Wednesday

My alarm rings point 7 o'clock. Like always. Except on weekends. Today it's Wednesday. I get up, get ready, have breakfast and leave my apartment punctual half past seven.

I step on the sidewalk and greet my neighbor, which enters her car to drive to work. I stroll slowly through the cool morning air. I don't have to hurry. I know, I'm going to be at the translation on time and my train's going to need seven more minutes to arrive. Like always. Today I notice a pigeon on a roof nearby that seems to look for something. The cat I saw yesterday does not cross my way. Like always I stop infront of a little cafe being on my way. Like always I take a look inside through the big windows and watch to people prepare everything. Like every Day. I keep walking. There are a lot of people on my way yet almost everyone is foreign.

I arrive 7.40 at the train station. At this time there is not a lot going on here even during the week. As usual I go to my track. Track 4. Like always. I sit down on one of the few metal chairs at the stop. As always, the second from the left. A few more people are waiting with me, but none of them have sat down. I do not know them. Their faces are rigid and anonymous. I don't want to know them.

Three minutes after my arrival, a blond young man comes on the platform and sits on the other side of the row of metal chairs. As always. He has headphones in, his backpack next to him and a small happy spark in his eyes as he takes a book out of his bag and opens it. Like always.Today it's Alice in the Wonderland. Like yesterday and the day before yesterday. It seems as if he's almost done. As he reads, a few of his blond strands fall in his face. As always, he gently strokes it back.

A little bit later the train stops in front of us with a loud squeak and all the waiting get on. Me and the blond boy too. The train is full. As always. After all we head downtown. I stand at the window, as always. And hold on to a handle above me. The blond boy has found a seat and has returned his attention to his book. I aim mine at the world outside the window that rushes past me and the other passengers. Gray mixes with green and colored lights from billboards. Like always. There is a hectic hustle and bustle outside and the hectic pace of everyday life can also be felt in the train compartment we are in. People get off. People get back on. A few people are completely strangers to me, others can be seen by me often on my way to the university.

The blond boy closes his book and stands up. As always, he leaves the train two stops ahead of me. I look after him until the doors close and I lose him in the crowd. Like every time. I say goodbye to him. In my thoughts and wish him a wonderful day, because I won't see him again until the next morning, at the same time as always, at the train station.

My station is coming. I get out and push my way through the people. My day starts like always.