Because You Had A Bad Day

She stepped on to the carriage, pushing in front of her a trolley full of personal belongings. Baggy jeans, baggy shirt, black and blue around her left eye, dirty hair. She struggles to get the trolley over the gap between the train and the platform and almost loses everything. She is on the phone to her Mother, she obviously isn't having a great day, and she's trying to do something about it.

"I've just gotta get me self outta there ya know, Mum? I can't be there any more, he just isn't good enough for me these days", she says loudly.

"Yes Mum, I'm on the train now. He's at work, he's gonna get the fright of his life when he finds out I ain't there."

"Ya know Mum, this really isn't as easy as I thought it would be, I feel like I'm gonna cry 'cause I'm so pissed off with 'im! I just dunno what I'm supposed to do now! I can't stay at your house forever! Where am I gonna go?!", she says with distress.

"I didn't realise how bloody dependent I was on him until thinking about it now!"

"Yeah I know. I've gotta collect myself, I'll be there soon, I'll ring ya when I'm 10 minutes away. Thanks Mum."

She hangs up the phone. She begins to look through one of her large red and white plaid laundry bags for something. Eventually she pulls out a man's 'Ford Racing' cap and turns it over in her hands, inspecting it slowly. Presumably it belonged to her now ex.

She wears the hat for a few seconds and then puts her head in arms, on the edge of her trolley and begins to swear under her breath about the man she had just left.

"Do you want to talk about it, love?", asks an older woman with permed white hair.

She looks up at the older woman, teary eyed and while she wipes them with her hand she says "That's really nice of you darl', but I don't think it's really any of your business, is it?"

"Oh. I was only trying to make sure you're okay", she says, taken aback.

"Well I'm fine alright? I don't need to talk to anyone about it, I've got it under control thanks", she says abruptly.

"Well! When I see a lone woman crying to herself in public, I feel compelled. I apologise if I've offended you!", she says defensively and articulately. And with that, she turns around and stares out the window.

The woman rings her Mother, and sure enough 10 minuted after gets off the train. As the train is stopping, she gets up to get out, she hesitates to do something. Eventually, she builds up the courage and taps the older woman on the shoulder to apologise.

"I'm sorry about before, mate. Obviously I'm having a rough time, I really appreciate you trying to help me though. It's made me crappy day a lot better", she says softly.

"I'm glad I was able to help", says the older woman with a smile.

And with that they part ways, presumably never to see each other again.