So I was coming home from work one night. I get off the train and walk to the bus stop to wait for my brother who isn't usually late when picking me up. As I stand there waiting, a man approaches me and says: 'hey!'. 'Obviously' I'm slightly alarmed by this sudden interaction and pause for a second before curiously replying: 'hey'. He notices I'm a little unnerved and continues: 'I'm not gonna murder you'. I laugh immediately, quite caught off guard by his upfront manner about the situation and reply: 'yh, true, why can't we all just be friendly to one and other?'. We agree. And just as any good conversation would have started, it comes to an abrupt end when my brother shows up and I bid the maybe/maybe-not-a-murderer a farewell.
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I indent the word 'obviously' because it's quite the oxymoron in this situation. 'OBVIOUSLY' you should be alarmed when a hooded man starts a conversation at an abandoned bus stop around 1am. However, knowing my own beliefs about being able to walk up to people and have a true conversation with them, i surprise myself with my actions. So the indent marks as the juxtaposition of what is likely - being alarmed, and what I should not have been - alarmed. I am insulting myself for not realising sooner that that man could be me one day sparking a convo with a fellow human being.
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