It’s one of those beautiful mornings that make me want to take a picture of everything, even though my coffee spilled on my new white shirt and I missed trash pickup day. Riding the train over the bridge, watching the sun peek over skyscrapers as I speed past traffic, I let the soft rumbling hum of the train rock me to sleep. Maybe it was my backpack full of economics textbooks or my blue and white school keychain, but the girl in the pink headphones nudges my shoulder. Blinking crusted mascara out of my eyes I watch her head twitch to the sign: “PEACHTREE CENTER” with a soft smile. Already 7 minutes late to class, I gasp and bustle off the train with my bags. I search for the pink headphones to say thank you, but she’s already gone, maybe off to save another sleeping passenger.

It’s one of those horrible rainy days that make me want to put my headphones in and tune the world out, even though I love the smell of rain and I remembered to take the bins out for trash pickup day. The guy behind me, though, catches my ear with a snore audible through his N95. I know it’s wrong, but the lanyard, the soft leather briefcase, and the polo make me assume Midtown. Just to be safe, I nudge him as we stop at Buckhead, gesturing with my eyes at the stop. “Is this you, boss?” I ask the rapidly blinking man, unsure he isn’t still dreaming. He grumbles “No, Midtown” as he crosses his arms and sinks his chin into his chest. As he has effectively pressed ‘snooze’ on me, I watch again as the sun heaves itself over the city. The man nods at me, slightly peeved I interrupted the last 10 minutes of his nap, but (I like to think) slightly grateful for the alarm. I pop my earbuds back in and think about the girl with the pink headphones, how everyone makes each other’s day.