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Q is for Quiet

Frank: March 28th, 2026

As we descend into the subway station, the quiet is overwhelming.

And then a train approaches the track, and the quiet is ruined. 

Amelia grabs my hand and pulls me toward the train. We hop on, and get seats next to each other. Her thigh is pressed against mine, and I love the way it feels. I try really hard not to put my hand on her thigh. It feels natural to do it, but I know I shouldn’t. I stick my hand in my pocket to keep from touching her.

When we get to her stop, she grabs my hand and pulls me off of the train.

Once we get out onto the street, the quiet descends again. You would think that a city would be loud, but this area of the city isn’t loud. It’s actually pretty quiet at this time of night. I can hear the occasional far off car, but that’s about it.

“This is me,” she says, as we walk up to a door in a row home. “I’m on the top floor,” she says. “You don’t have to walk all the way up.”

I nod. I certainly don’t have to walk all the way up, but I could. “I don’t mind, if you want the company.”

She nods slowly back at me. “Do you want to?”

“I thought you said it was a bad idea.”

“It is a bad idea.”

“But…” I prompt.

“But I want you to come up.”

“I want to come up.”

She stares up at me with her wide eyes, and I see the want in them, but this is a bad, bad idea.