There was a woman on the F train tonight, a fat, older woman, poorly dressed. She might have been mentally incapacitated, maybe homeless, it was hard to tell. She had a pitiable air. She held a plastic container with a solitary, half-eaten Rice Krispy treat, frosted in such a way that made it appear to have been ejaculated on by a dog.

She stood with her package clutched to her bosom, staring out the front window of the first car, the one that looks out onto the oncoming tracks. Red lights, green lights. Shadowy figures on the platforms. I thought, everyone does like to look up ahead, no matter who they are.