Don't worry, it's not you

I squeeze myself on to a tram after work. I try my best not to fall on someone as the tram violently accelerates. I give the people around me a warm smile, knowing we all would rather be somewhere else. At a popular stop, many people get off, and many hop on. I took it as a opportunity to get a seat, despite sitting all day at work. I sit next to a stranger. We exchange smiles. As the tram (violently) accelerates, a person stomps on someone's foot and apologises. Then I smelt something. Kind of musty. Kind of gross. I try hide my disgusted face. I know how expressive my facial expressions are. It gets stronger. I suddenly think that it may actually be me. Maybe I had left food in my bag? Maybe it's my body odor? How could I have sweat so much from sitting down all day? I smell my bag, then my arm pits. I looked up concentrating, trying to find the source. Then I smelt myself and my bag again. The stranger next to me chuckles and says, "don't worry, it's not you". We both start laughing. The stranger continues and says it "smells like wet wool" and that it's the "people that just got on". I didn't know that's what wet wool smells like. I thank her because if she hadn't said anything, I would've gone about my day wondering if it were me that smelt like wet wool on the tram. Some strangers really have your back.

Aug 2024