Ashes and snow
A couple has sat down beside him. He tries not to listen to their conversation. Tries not to follow the lives of their friends. Tries not to learn about whose children is going to which school and the long admission processes for pre-school. At Croton Harmon they shift across the aisle to recently vacated seats. Carl lets himself stretch out. He cloese his eyes. Usually he is afraid to sleep; fear of missing his station keeps him awake. Today he is freed from those fears. The sound of the tracks beat heavy on his ears.