[Last modified: December, 5 2024 07:06 PM]
When I take the subway to school by myself, I always wear headphones with loud music playing. It’s my way of retreating into my own world amidst the noise and motion of the city. On a recent trip home, I was listening to Taylor Swift’s Peace. The soft, melancholic melody seemed to align perfectly with my mood, bringing an overwhelming sense of calm. For a moment, it felt like I was the only one left in the world, even as I sat among the crowd on the train.
I glanced around and saw a little girl chatting animatedly with her mother. Her excitement reminded me of my childhood in China, where I would often take public transportation with my family. Memories of those moments flooded back—holding my parents’ hands, feeling the security of their presence. I began to wonder what they were doing now. Were they thinking of me as much as I was missing them? The thought brought a pang of longing, a reminder of the distance that time and geography had placed between us.
As the train pulled into Baker Street, a tall, elegant girl stepped onto the carriage. She carried herself with quiet confidence, and as she passed by, I caught the scent of her perfume. It was familiar—my friend had worn this fragrance before. It stirred memories of us shopping together at Bond Street, laughing as we tried on perfumes, finding the perfect one for her. Those moments of lighthearted joy felt so vivid that I smiled involuntarily. Happy times like those seem fleeting, yet they never fade with time. They linger in my mind, like warm pockets of energy that can lift my spirits whenever I think of them.
The train sped forward, and when the station announcement called for Wembley Park, I knew it was time to leave. As I moved through the crowd, the warmth of the carriage clung to me, and stepping outside felt like entering another world. The cold wind brushed my face and lifted my hair, cutting through the lingering coziness. With my headphones still on, the music enveloped me, amplifying a sense of solitude. I felt both sad and beautiful in that moment, as though I were the protagonist in a melancholic film. The air was so cold it seemed to freeze around me, tightening my chest and making it hard to breathe.
Just then, as I turned the corner, the scent of freshly baked bread wafted from the bakery downstairs. It was warm and sweet, wrapping around me like an invisible blanket. The aroma thawed the frozen air and pulled me out of my thoughts, making me smile without even realizing it. Life’s small, fleeting pleasures always have a way of grounding me, reminding me of the comforts waiting just ahead. I began to anticipate going home—a warm room, a hot bath, and maybe a slice of cake or a bowl of steaming vegetable soup to nourish me. The thought filled me with a quiet, simple joy, a reminder that even amidst the bittersweet moments of life, warmth and happiness are always within reach.