Glitch In The Matrix

As I sit at my computer, I stare at the blinking cursor. If it could feel it would be disappointed. It’s been a week and I’ve written nothing. The birds outside chirp as if they were arguing, they remind me that I sat up all night typing and deleting and now staring at yet still a blank page. I pick up my coffee mug and tap a sip and immediately spit it back into the cup. Remembering that this is yesterday’s coffee and also I didn’t put any sugar or milk. My phone starts to vibrate. I peek at the screen and see my editor's name.

“Fuck…”

I patiently wait until she hangs up. Everly is the best editor in the city, hard to get but she found me so I believe I can get away with dodging her a few times. I turn off my computer and peel myself off the leather computer chair. My legs feel weak from sitting so long. I push through the shakiness and head over to the bathroom. I figured a shower was due then breakfast and hopefully the walk I intended to take would spark some inspiration.

I walk down towards the beginning of the station so I can sit in the first car. I shove the pen into my jacket pocket and hold my notebook in my hand.

After a few minutes of waiting and anxious tapping of my foot, I hear the train whistle. It slowly comes to a stop and once the doors open I have tunnel vision for my favorite seat. I head straight for it and plop right down. I turn to my right to stare out the window, I watch as the station disappears.

I try to drown out all the people talking and making noise. The smell of smoke fills my lungs and I start to cough a bit. I look around at the other passengers but none of them are the culprit. The train stops and more people board; Suddenly I make eye contact with a man sitting directly in front of me. I wonder how I did not see him? I get annoyed but I refuse to move. The man smiles at me, it makes me uncomfortable. He smiles big and wide like he knows something I don’t. It makes all the hairs on my neck stand up. I decided once we reach the next stop I will go to the next car. Unfortunately, the train stops in the tunnel. I look around at the other passengers but weirdly enough everyone has disappeared. My heart starts to pound because we literally only went one stop and I know I saw people on here. The man takes off his hat and puts it on his lap. His face still smiling; he puts out his cigarette on the train seat next to him; it leaves a black stain mark followed by a few ashes. Uncomfortably, I grip my notebook tight. The train lights flicker causing me to panic. My heart palpitates which causes a sharp pain in my chest. The man leans over to me and says

“You’re a very beautiful young lady”

His deep voice sent shivers down my spine.

“Thank you,” I said softly.

Barely loud enough to hear my own voice.

He looks at my notebook.

“Student?”

The sweat on my palms makes the notebook difficult to keep a grip on.

“No, writer.”

He appeared more pleased with that answer.

“Yes of course. I’m somewhat of a writer myself. I write sexual fiction, what about you?”

“Horror.”

He laughs.

The smell of his breath could start a war. He rubbed his balding head and looked back at me.

“Horror? Really? You’re too cute and sweet to be writing horror.”

I didn’t say anything, just awkwardly smiled hoping the train would move. Suddenly the man stopped laughing and went back to minding his business. I was happy that it was over but it was weird. The train started moving and the lights stopped flickering. I looked around and noticed that the people were once again on the train. I was again confused. Was it the lack of sleep making me delirious? The caffeine?

I looked back at the man but he was gone. My mind was playing tricks on me. I stood up and looked around walking up and down the car. I know people thought I was crazy but I know what I saw. I know I saw that man. I spoke to him. The cigarette smell still lingered in the air. There was absolutely no way he just disappeared…