First

I am riding on the train.
The man across is looking at me weirdly.
Discomfort. Awkwardness. I shift in my seat. Awkward is a weird word what with the wkw in the middle. Are there any other words with the pattern v₁c₁c₂c₁v₁?
I decide to stare back, see who flinches first. Try to maintain neutral expression.
The train rumbles.
Then I realize he is blind.

Oh god.
Hot face. Instantly sweaty hands; I grip my bag, tightly. I shift in my seat. I try not to feel stupid and fail. I look anywhere but across, I am looking nowhere.

In. Out. In two three four, out two three four. Okay. I glance around. No one is looking, except the blind man.
The train rumbles.
I wish I had the puzzle, the paper, a book, my music, anything. I stare at the backs of my hands on my bag on my lap on the seat on the train on the tracks on the world. I realize I don't really know the backs of my hands that well. The bones look weird when I wiggle my fingers. Was that freckle always there?
I steal another glance towards the blind man, but he is gone.

I have missed my stop.