Love on the R train.

So what will follow is a true experience I had on November 23rd, 2013. I was going to save it for my Friday post, but I have little to actually say tonight. I wrote it the night it happened.


Tonight I found myself on the 8th Street/NYU subway platform around 10:45…a place I often find myself. It had been a long day. And the cold had settled in unexpectedly. I just wanted to get home. The platform was mostly empty. You were in the little concession area. I was standing there with my headphones on. Wearing all black, black pants, black pea coat, black scarf, black converse, black fingerless gloves. I noticed you right away. I don’t know if you noticed me. After a few minutes the train shows up. It was an R and I needed the N. You got on…so I did too. The train was mostly empty. I decided to sit opposite you as opposed to next to you. You pulled out your phone and I pulled out my kindle. I was playing Sudoku you seemed to be playing a game of some sort. There were some very annoying girls sitting near us as well. We caught each other’s eye occasionally. I observed you. Tall, nice light brown hair and fair skin. You were wearing nice jeans, a black pullover and a black top coat with brown boots. A look I could never pull off, but you did. At one point you looked up and saw me looking. I smiled and you gave me back this great smile that made my heart jump. I told myself if you were going to Astoria I would give you my number. We get to 42nd street and you get up. My heart fell a little. You are standing holding onto the pole as the train pulls into the station. Before the doors open we look at each other again. You turn back to me, I think you are going to introduce yourself or whisper something in my ear, but instead you plant a kiss on my cheek. And disappear. The doors close and as we pull out of the station I see you walking.

 I am flushed and my heart is racing. We get to 49th street and I think I hesitated. I had no pen to give you my number. I should have grabbed your hand and made you stay for one more stop. I should have gotten off and gotten your number and just grabbed the next train. I hesitated. I am a guy who loves and lives for romantic comedies and this was the beginning of it. What a romantic New York moment…so fleeting.

I have never used Missed Connections before and you probably haven’t either, but if I don’t put this out there I fear my heart will leap out of my chest and race back to that subway car and that moment at Times Square/42nd street. This time though I wouldn’t hesitate.

I implore you to share this with the world. If you know a young man who has retold you this story send him my way.