Tube tales: one minute away

8.30 am, a tube station somewhere in London. The Northern line train which was “only a minute away” is now approaching. The expressions on the commuters’ faces tense up. Eyebrows meet, nostrils semi-flare, eyelids tighten, upper lips lift up…quivering. They know what they are about to see.
“It’s going to be alright”, I whisper in my neighbour’s ear. She gives me a smile, as sincere as a LinkedIn endorsement. I smile back with equal sincerity. Then we deep-dive, only to get spewed out by the sea of flesh.
The next Northern line train is only a minute away.

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