People in the train

They stand side by side

Motionless

Buried in their mobile phones

Earphones shoved in

to block out an unsuspecting “hi” or a “hello”.

Exchanging furtive glances

Occasionally surveying the landmass of faces.

Cocooned in the smug warmth of their isolation

Their bodies meet in an unwanted

Rubbing , patting, daubing of each other

friction generating cold warmth that melts away

like droplets of water on the AC vent

The metal doors slide open

to send each

Unwilling neighbour in a silent unacknowledged

more common than they know

journey of hope.