I saw you in a subway car and you were standing a few steps away from me. At first I only saw you from the back and that was enough for me to want to know more about you.
You were slim and a little tall, had short hair, a plaid shirt, denim shorts and black leggings. You had your cell phone in your hand and were constantly checking the time, but not in a hurry.
The carriage arrived making its usual noise announcing its arrival and we got on. Without realizing it, we ended up sitting across from each other. I don't believe in luck, it just happened. You concentrated on your cell phone as if you were avoiding everyone but not on purpose, you were simply thinking about something deeper. You took some small white headphones out of your pocket and connected them to your cell phone. I wanted to know what you were listening to. I was strangely intrigued.
I focused on a map with the following stations. Not much happened but when I looked back at you, I noticed that you were watching me. Somewhat embarrassed you returned your gaze to your cell phone leaving me even more intrigued.
Not even three seasons have passed since we boarded and I am no longer surprised by your sudden glances at me. I don't try to avoid them. As we go on, people are getting off and not getting on. There are less and less of us in the carriage and your glances become even more obvious.
We no longer avoided each other's gazes and your cell phone was left aside. For a couple of minutes we looked straight into each other's eyes, as if we could get to know each other like that. It crossed my mind what a conversation with you would be like. I knew it would be interesting.
I felt a choked voice in my chest. I knew I wouldn't say a word, but I still wanted to. I also knew you felt the same way.
There were only two stations left to my destination and I had already convinced myself not to meet you. I lowered my gaze resignedly, when I heard something as catastrophic to my mind as a blow to the back of my head.
-Hello," you said to me as you looked at me with a simple look and a smile so slight that seen from any other angle it would not have been possible to distinguish, "I'm Fernanda.
I was slow to respond. -Hello," I said automatically without even fully processing what had happened unexpectedly. -I'm Alejandro. -At that, the subway stops just one station before mine. -See you. -I didn't answer, I just watched her get up from her seat. We watched each other until the very moment she got off. And she left.
As the doors closed, I looked at my cell phone and without realizing it before, I had missed several calls. Quickly a call came in.
-Hello," I answered.
-Love. Are you coming already?
From that day on I stopped falling in love in the subway.
Photographers: Kevin James Neal