The meaning of space

On one particularly late day to work, I caught the 8:40 am to the City, and spent the rest of the leisurely train ride engrossed in my new novel, Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer.

I was reading about how Bella had just married her true love, Edward, who just so happened to be a vampire. She was prepared to give him anything, including her soul. Wasn't so much to ask for was it? The way they loved each other, it was as if they couldn't live without each other. There was one point where Edward had left her for a long time, wanting her to have a normal human life, thinking that this was the best way to do it, that it was for her own good. Or so he thought. She became catatonic without him, withdrawing herself from the world, because the one thing she wanted, didn't want her. And who was to blame her for feeling that way? She eventually came out of her state though, and became best friends with Jacob who appreciated her. She didn't realize it at the time though, but she actually fell in love with Jacob too. Bella didn't choose to give Edward his space, it was imposed on her, against her will. The result of which was, it forced her down a different pathway. She found an unexpected happiness with Jacob.

Edward eventually returned to her though, but by then, the damage had been done. It was a wonder she forgave him.

***

When I finally looked up from my novel, I heard a familiar tune coming from the guy sitting next to me. I would know that tune anywhere, the beat is pretty distinctive. It was the Korean group Shinee's Noona You're So Pretty (Replay) song. How strange was it that out of all carriages, out of all seats, I'd be sitting next to someone who was playing a song I had on my own iPod. I took out my iPod, tapped the guy on his arm, and showed him the song, and he smiled as he agreed it was that same song. So I played the song for the rest of the train ride. It must have sounded funny to other people hearing the same song coming from two different people's earphones.

It's funny that this coincidence wouldn't have happened had we been sitting further apart. But then, that's the effect of space.