Subway Lovers

Jia is an international student in New York. New city, new school, no friends yet.

Every morning, same train to school - the 7 train, Queensboro Plaza to Times Square. Same carriage, same seat if she can get it, earphones in with no music. Keep her head down, don't get lost.

That's her system.

Until she notices her.

The girl a few seats in front. Long hair, pretty in a quiet way, always on at the same stop.

Jia didn't mean to notice her, but she did.

The way she tucks her hair behind her ear, the way she stares out the window when the train goes above ground in Queens.

For months, same train, same time, zero words. Just quick looks, shy smiles, then pretending to look away.

And now it's ending.

The MTA announced Queensboro Plaza will be closed for three months for repairs.

All trains rerouted.

No more same train and today is the last ride.

If Jia doesn't say something now, she never will.

She's thousands of miles from home, on a crowded 7 train, about to risk her whole careful system for a girl whose name she doesn't even know.

Because some people are worth missing your stop for.

© AILEEN NARAG 2026