Tired

Sarah Ng
Sarah Ng
Aug 8, 2017 · 2 min read

I was pretty excited to get two books from the Harold Washington Library on Saturday and rode the Blue Train home. I saw a man in the blue collared shirt behind me, nodding off. Suddenly the announcer said over the grinding tracks, “The last stop is UIC-Halstead.” (It was two stops away from where I was heading.)

I couldn’t hear what was going on, and a man with headphones waved at me to get off the bus.

Outside, the man in the blue collared shirt was frustrated, “Why does this train always have to stop like this. I’m tired.”

He is right, this train seems to be pretty unreliable. I told him to sit down, there was an empty bench right there.

“It’s okay, I’m just tired. I hope the next train comes soon.” Looking at the sign.

Every time he said he was tired, I told him he could sit on the bench. Then we started talking about his work.

“I am going to retire in 3 years, then I’m gonna move outta here,” he said. “South Carolina maybe.”

I asked, “Why ?”

“Tired of the killings. There is just so much crime here, it had gotten worse over the years.”

“Warm climate, cold climate?”

“Definitely cold.”

I wanted to say that South Carolina might be warm but kept my mouth shut.

“What’s your name?” he asked

“Sarah.”

“Nice to meet you, Sarah. My name is Tyrone.” Just then, the next train came. “Ladies first.” He waved toward all the ladies in his view, as they scurried on the train. “Thank you!” they said.

He went into a different train car and I didn’t see him again.

He made me reflect a lot about Chicago’s rate of gun violence and how it wears on people. The pain is pronounced. Just a couple months ago, I went into a church to hear a woman give a testimony about the death of her son, yet thanking God that she met a young man that knew him at the bus stop. They sat and reflected on the life of her son.

I am not entirely sure what to say or where I am going with this, I wish I could empathize but I would say Chicagoans are resilient. They attempt to find beauty in the midst of the pain.