I’ve been having a bad week. I’ve been in a bad mood, I don’t like authority, I fell off my bike. Things haven’t been going my way.

Then, the train stopped.

It was one of those moments that again reminded me of how little control I have over certain things. I was trying to get to work early to finish up the pile of “urgent” tasks that inevitably pop up before a few days off. But the train had its own plans.

This week, the one hour delay on the train should have been number 743,222 on my list of complaints. But this train delay was different.

My morning started like every other morning. Getting up way too early, doing some yoga stretches, filling my portable tea mug with cinnamon spice tea. I scored a four-seat cluster all to myself–this alone is enough to turn any bad week around. It’s the jackpot of any morning. But then, a handsome stranger sat across from me.

Normally, I would scorn this invasion of “my” spot on the train. Let’s just say the type of people I usually see on the train don’t have the best potential. But this handsome stranger was different. I decided to put down my phone and see what would happen.

Then, the train stopped.

When I saw repairmen walking around outside, I looked up to the sky and said, “God? Could it be?!” The train was full of annoyed groans and German complaints. But I was sitting there in stunned joy.

The moment the conductor made an announcement, I siezed the opportunity.

Batting my eyelashes, I said, “Excuse me, do you speak English”

“Of course. She said there is a problem with the train and we will be stuck her for a while.” Then, he looked back down at his phone.

Dejected, but not out, I replied, “Oh. Hmm, what a bad day to forget my book!” He nodded. Then went back to his phone.

So I sat there. Smiling. Sipping my tea. Available. Waiting for the next announcement.

He translated again and again for me. And each time, I tried to start up a conversation.

“All I understood was twenty minutes.”…
“Do you work in Darmstadt?”…
“HA! I wonder how long we’ll be stuck here.”

And each time, he politely acknowledged me and then went back to whatever important conversation he was having with his wife/girlfriend/mistress/lover/partner/mom/boyfriend/boss on his phone. At one point, he even pulled out another phone and was using both phones.

As the train started moving, and approached the Darmstadt station, he bolted.

And so, what seemed like a silver platter that had been handed to me, was really just a tease.

I’m adding the train delay to my complaint list. And I’m taking that gingerbread “single” heart and eating the whole thing in one love-hating bite!