You were on your way back home from university, feeling the weight of the day’s lectures and assignments. As you approached the train platform, you quickened your pace, hoping to catch the next train. Just as you reached the edge of the platform, the doors closed with a finality that echoed through the station. You watched helplessly as the train pulled away, leaving you behind. With a sigh of frustration, you slumped onto one of the metal benches, the cold surface doing nothing to alleviate your irritation.

As you settled in for what you knew would be a long wait, you began to take in your surroundings. The station was a mix of bustling commuters and weary travelers, each lost in their own thoughts. Your eyes wandered aimlessly until they landed on a young man standing a short distance away. He seemed to be around your age, perhaps also a university student. What caught your attention was his hair—a striking bachelor blue color that tumbled past his shoulders. It was beautiful but looked like it was causing him a fair amount of trouble.

He was struggling with his hair, trying to keep it out of his face as he fumbled with his backpack and phone. After a few moments, he seemed to give up on his attempts to manage it. His eyes scanned the platform, and for a brief second, they met yours. He gave you a small, sheepish smile before walking over.

“Hey,” he said, his voice tinged with a mix of embarrassment and hope. “Do you have a hair tie by any chance?”

His question caught you off guard. You fished around in your bag, thinking back to whether you had stashed any hair ties in there at the start of the day. After a moment, your fingers closed around a small elastic band. You pulled it out and handed it to him, smiling.

“Here you go,” you said.

His face lit up with relief and gratitude. “Thanks so much. This hair has a mind of its own sometimes.”