Conversation With a Stranger Note

*This consists of Claudia Rankine quotes 

Conversations with Strangers happen from left to right. Whether it’s about directions or suddenly discussing the shared inconvenience we had. Or it’s a short nod, a small smile, and even a glance.

 Unexpected encounters can happen anywhere. 

Most unexpected encounters happen to me, usually when I am on SEPTA. I have the strangest conversations with people. Over cats or something else. But sometimes conversations can have, “Certain moments [that] send adrenaline to the heart, dry out the tongue, and clog the lungs.” That’s what happened to me when a man suddenly started speaking to me as I felt the air from the train's fan. Out of nowhere, he talked to me, and even though I should’ve done what most people do and walked away, I stayed and talked—conversations about his family, myself, and my religion and how we felt about it. 

I learned about something new and I felt comfortable, like when another man asked me if the train was coming or not. I thought it was just a normal exchange between two strangers, but he taught me how to tell when the train was coming. When a lady helped me reach home and comforted me when I was scared and lost. 

These conversations make you feel happy and special. Like a part of you evolved and changed into something better. 

But some conversations with strangers even at first seem ok, naive, simple, and innocent but in reality, it’s terrifying and makes you uncomfortable. Conversations are “Like thunder they drown you in sound, no like lightning they strike you across the larynx” gasping for air and wishing and wanting to escape. Every inch of your body reacting to danger shouting go away, run! “You think this is an experiment or you’re being tested.” There will be moments like this but there is a saying that strangers are people you have yet to become friends with. But as the saying goes some friendships stay some don’t.  How you interact with them is entirely up to you. 

I am fortunate to have more pleasant interactions with strangers than unpleasant ones and I love that; yet sometimes, it can get scary, and terrifying. I want to be cautious and equally excited to meet new people and have more pleasant conversations.