Diary Entry: A Chance Encounter in Brooklyn #

It was a pleasant spring day as I made my way towards the train station during my lunch break. On my walk, I noticed an elderly woman with a cane eagerly waving and smiling at me. She inquired about the location of the Q train, mentioning her destination as Canal Street.

She shared that she had lost her bearings and couldn’t recall how she had found herself in Brooklyn. Concerned for her well-being, I accompanied her on the train ride to Canal Street. During our journey, she opened up about her life, including growing up in Beijing during the 1940s and her solo move to New York to pursue music studies after the tragic loss of her son to leukemia.

Upon arrival at Canal Street, I insisted on exchanging contact details with her. Although she hasn’t been seen in my neighborhood again, we occasionally meet for breakfast at her favorite Chinese bakery near Canal Street. Our encounters have become a cherished connection in the bustling cityscape of New York.