Chance

It was 3:13 p.m. I've never slept in that late in my life. I figured it was about time to get up and head back home. Most of the other groomsmen were still asleep, I think - still recovering from Kyle's wedding reception last night.

Jake was, at least. He was completely sprawled out, taking up the entire bed on the other side of the room. It's a good thing we all agreed to put just two in a room, even though we could have saved money by putting all four of us in one. There was no way Jake was sharing his bed with anyone. He had come back from the reception last night and just plopped on the bed - completely sprawled out like he was trying to make a star shape with his body.

I showered, packed up, and tried to wake Jake up to let him know I was heading back home. He was still out of it though, so it was no use. When he drinks, he really drinks.

I went down to the lobby, checked out of the hotel, then headed down to the subway station which was just a block over. The other guys were planning on staying another night uptown, but I had to get back home, so I left.

I reflected on the night before.

Kyle had finally married his girlfriend of three years, Jessica. It was a nice wedding, and the reception was fun. There was plenty to drink, and all of our friends from college were there.

As I got to the subway station, I realized something: I was the only one out of our group of guy friends that was still single. In fact, I hadn't even had a legitimate girlfriend for over two years. And by legitimate I meant my relationship with Sarah Williams that lasted five months.

"I just need a one-way ticket to 14th Street," I said to the man in the ticket booth, amidst my train of thought.

"That'll be $2.50," he said.

I had never really thought about that until now. Of course I'd noticed it from time to time, but usually we'd hang out in such big groups with the girls we were friends with from college that it never bothered me.

"Doors closing. Next stop, Kingsbridge Rd.," the voice on the intercom said.

This was going to be a long ride home. There were still twenty-four stops until 14th Street.

The subway was grimy and smelled like a dumpster with a vast mix of old banana peels and Coke cans that had been left open.

Only glimpses of light peeped through as we passed a staircase every so often that led to sidewalk where sunlight could shine through. The car I was in was only about half full, although I couldn't really tell because everyone was sitting by themselves, scattered throughout.

A young couple got on the subway at the Burnside Avenue stop. They were probably in their mid-20s or so, close to my age. They reminded me a lot of Kyle and Jessica. They weren't overly flirtatious, but you could tell they had been together a while and really cared about each other.

Maybe it was the way she leaned over to whisper in his ear so only he could hear, all the while gently caressing his arm. Each sentence ended with them playfully smirking at the other.

I don't usually look at a woman's hands, but I couldn't help but notice her ring. Her fiancée grinned as he leaned over to kiss her.

Down the car was a girl on her phone, most likely talking to her boyfriend. She giggled a lot as she talked and I heard her say, "I love you" just before she hung up the phone.