FEARFUL COMMUTING

So I was riding the train home tonight and right before the train pulls into new brunswick, this guy sits across from me in a three-seater. I look up and see him clutching his black backpack and I start to panic. WHO CLUTCHES THEIR BACKPACK LIKE THAT, IN HIS ARMS LIKE HE'S ALL NERVOUS AND SHIT. I wasn't wearing my glasses so I couldn't see if he was praying or sweat was beading down his forehead or what! I struck up chitter chatter conversation out of nervousness...asked him what stop this was and got the fuck up.

I ran to the back of the train and turned around after a few cars and I could see him poking his head out looking after me. I hid out in the bathroom for a minute. I've never had a reaction like that at all to anyone. He just looked so shady and nervous-like. I felt like a no-good ass racial profiler...me of all fucking people. But yo, that's not even the end of it. I'm sitting in my new seat across from the bathroom talking to my sister who I had called on my cellphone and she was asking me what the dude looked like...and I said... olive-skinned and what not...and go into detail. Lo and behold, here comes the Backpacker looking around and shit, I swear he was looking for me. I started saying my prayers for real. He went into the bathroom and was in there for a Long Ass Time and I was like for sure, it is all over.

When he came out he sat across from me AGAIN. That was the last straw. When the train stopped at Princeton Junction, I got the fuck off, even though it was one stop too early. I'm so sorry if that dude wasn't actual weird or a terrorist or anything but really...it takes a lot for me to get spooked. I'm usually quite calm. I just had this feeling like an instant panic attack. I mean I actually started freaking out at the sight of the way the man was holding his backpack...I didn't even have time to see his face really. And when heard him speak...I was out.

I've been taking the train almost everyday for a year now and I just suddenly freak out? It doesn't make sense.