SAW IT ALL

She was finally moving from the quiet little old town where she studied, to a much bigger metropolitan city, the capital city where she had landed a job. This was how opportunities had worked out for her. Her heavy luggage and strap bag weighed and slowed her down, nonetheless she managed to get onto the metro. She grabbed and held on to one of the stainless-steel pole supports to gain balance and be stable as she stood in the aisle.

It was right in front of her, but she had not noticed yet…

From where she stood, five seats provided on each side, a free spaced standing area for the passengers, stanchions and handrails to be held on by standing passengers for balance and stability. A couple occupied the first two seats of the row from where she was looking. With them was a child, who was comfortably laying in a baby carriage in front of them, innocently playing and laughing, grabbing his father's arm, biting and giggling as the mother on-looked lovingly, but with a protective watch on every move her child made.

Next beside them sat another couple, seemingly younger. From their actions, they looked in love, as they gave each other sweet warm hugs and kisses, small talks and giggling laughs. The young lady was cheerfully looking at the kid that was having a playful exciting time of biting his father's hand, she smiled deeply as she laid her head on her partner's shoulder and continuously watched.Last seat on the row was occupied by a man that looked older, pretty much in his late fifties, he also, was watching, but with a cold smile, like he had seen this before, presumably countless times.

As she stood there, trying to gain her balance and enough strength to carry on with her full packed and heavy looking suit case. There and then it stroked her, for a moment she smiled sarcastically about the thought that came to her, it was all right in front of her, all life stages unfolding right here.

Meanings and thoughts unfolded, the seemingly in-love young couple were looking at the family with an eye of desire, the beautiful young family, embarking on life's journey with a child to raise and be there for, a family consisting of two happy but also exhausted looking parents, yet, filled with hope in what is coming next or maybe, just many responsibilities to think about. An old man, he on-looked with either an eye of satisfaction, regret, memories or even hope, but had very few gestures on his round light bearded face but who seemed like he had been through it all. And she, the young single lady under construction, looking at the couple; pursuing education, work and building herself up day by day, struggling on some days and living cheerfully happy on the other days. At some points, she would lose hope but again gain motivation from all that was happening. As minutes flew past, she stood and watched while holding on to the stainless-steel pole, trying to find her purpose and focus on achieving her goals.

Her stop was next. She had to alight from the metro train…

She finally disembarked, but she didn’t feel the same like she had boarded the train few minutes ago. She left wondering how in a short time, could she see it all, and why?Which of them might be the most satisfied?Do we always have to look at what others have, until we realize we have missed out on something along the way?