Silence    by Daphne Huang 黃郁雯

As the approach lights flash, the train draws into the MRT station. Seeing the train arriving, passengers on the platform all crowd into the train. Shortly, the warning bell is ringing, and the door is about to close. “Quick! The train is leaving,” yells an elderly woman, beside her is a little girl aged seven or eight. The little girl steps onto the train, while the elderly woman still stands on the platform, looking back and calling a couple to hurry up. Yet, it is too late. The door closes like a wall separating the little girl and the elderly woman. The elderly woman cannot do anything but looks nervously and anxiously at the little girl through the window until the train rushes too far away from sight.

Everyone in the train sees what happened but none says a word, not even a slightest change of expression. The little girl looks around, searching every passenger’s face for some hints of favors. Passengers on the train—sitting on the seats or standing with hands holding on to the straps—look forward aimlessly and absently.  Still, nobody even bothers to take a look at her. She turns slowly to the window in which reflects a pair of eyes beginning to blur with tears.

Two minutes have passed but it seems like several hours. Except for the rumbling of the train, no single sound is heard. The girl’s hope sinks down to the bottom. All of a sudden, a deep voice says to the little girl, “Is that woman your grandma?” The girl looks up. It is a man in his mid-forties. He stood in the corner of the carriage, witnessed the incident, and now walks close to the girl. “Yes,” says the girl, a little timidly. She is not sure whether it is right to talk to a stranger, but maybe the man can give her a hand. “Do you know where you are going?” asks the man again. With uncertainty, the girl slowly shakes her head. “Umm…Let’s see…Do you remember your phone number?” Their conversation draws some attention from the passengers; yet, the passengers remain silent.

“Yes,” the girl replies.

“I think I can help you to find your grandma….”

“Really?” interrupts the little girl, whose face is lit up with hope.

“Yeah, don’t worry. We’ll find your grandma. Just tell me your phone number, so I can call your family.” The man takes out his cell phone while talking to the girl.  During their conversation, the train arrives at the next station. “Now, let’s stop at this station, and I’ll take you to your grandma.” The man takes the girl in her hand, and they get off the train. Some passengers also get off the train while others stay, still saying nothing. Slowly, the man and the little girl are hidden from view in the crowd. After the door closes, the train rushes to the next station.

Soon after the man and the girl leave, in the train, there is an announcement coming from the speaker: “Attention. Passenger Chen Qi-Zhen, please take the train back to Dingxi station. Your family is waiting for you at the information desk.  Passenger Chen Qi-Zhen, please take the train….” Hearing the announcement, the passengers, going on their journey, remain unmoved.