Man on the Train

She didn't have any reason to, but she wondered what had happened to the man she had seen on the train. He had winked at her, between puffs of steamy breath. The air was cold and light. Everything seemed louder to her lately. She wondered if in the winter, because it was denser if sound traveled better or worse. A thought briefly fluttered: whales sounds could be heard hundreds or thousands (she forgot which) of miles away. Thicker air must carry sound farther, maybe louder too. Do they work together, she wondered.

The man had on a blue knitted hat and sunglasses, which were frosted just a little in one corner. He had no facial hair at all and bright red, although cracked, lips. They seemed soft and ready to be kissed. But he was gone, with the train.