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The Subway
The Subway
In a cold morning during a trip in New York with some friends something horrible happened. It was my first time in New York and we were planning on visiting the Empire State. Everyone wanted to take a cab but Mirna insisted that the subway was cheaper and faster. I was very excited because it was going to be my first time in the subway. When we got there I saw how everyone went in and out the metro really fast and I started to get really nervous. It was our turn to get in, there was a lot of people and my friends were in front of me. They rushed inside and I heard one of my friends telling me to hurry up. Just as I was getting in, the doors closed, squeezing me. I didn’t know what to do, an old man was screaming behind me as I just stood there. My friends tried to pull me in, but my bag was outside the doors so I could not get in. Millions of things passed through my mind. If I just stood there with the doors squeezing me, maybe the metro would start moving with half of me outside and probably die. This idea panicked me. If I got in, my purse would stay outside, I would lose my wallet with all my money and ID, including my passport. This was not an option. If I stepped outside, I would be completely lost and alone in a city I’ve never been to before. All that happened in 5 seconds that seemed as 10 minutes to me. I suddenly realized the people telling me to move because I was slowing down the line so my reaction was getting out with my bag. I stood there for a minute trying to figure out what to do. I did not have a map because Montse was the one in charge of guiding us. My cellphone had no battery and I barely understood english. People were passing by, pushing me. I felt like I was in the way as an obstruction, blocking the way. I decided to go back to the hotel and wait until my friend came back from Empire State. I got in the first taxi I saw because I was too afraid of getting in the subway again. I told the taxi driver the name of the hotel, he then asked me something that I did not understand so I just said yes. While we were on our way, I realized we were taking more time than usual and I could not recognize any place so I supposed he was taking me to the wrong place but I did not know how to ask him in english. When we finally arrived, I saw the name of the hotel but it was not the one I was staying in. I was completely lost so I started to panic. I decided to go inside the hotel and ask for someone who understood spanish. At first I could not find anyone, just as I was about to give up a guy approached to me and said he could speak spanish. I told him everything that had happened to me today. He laughed a lot and offered me a ride back to my hotel. I usually do not strangers but there was something about him and I was desperate to get home and I could not afford another taxi so I agreed. I was hungry so we stopped by a hot dog stand in the street. I had never tried a street hot dog before. It was the best one I had ever tasted. We finally got back to the hotel and the first thing I saw was my friends waiting for me in the lobby. They told me they had gone back to the subway station where I lost them and I was not there anymore so they continued looking for me. I had never happier to see them. I thanked the guy who brought me to the hotel and he invited me and my friends to see a broadway musical and then to the after party with the actors and the rest of the crew. Even though I went through some really terrible experiences, I ended up having a great time and got the chance to see a different part of New York. I learned that everything happens for a reason and after every bad situation there is always something positive.
By; Norma Cantú and Ana Sofia Guajardo
