You 're a subway conductor and one day you realize no one has been riding your train for years . ( WP )

*Announce the approaching station, stop the train, open doors, shut doors, move to the next station. * It sounded like a simple process but there were hundreds of diminutive factors that could disrupt the routine. Unlike the train, passengers were less predictable: they didn ’ t follow procedures, got into fights, held doors back, accidentally activated the train ’ s emergency mode, had emergencies… the list is extensive. However, on good days, my job was like clockwork. Time flowed like fine sand, my mind sharpened, and the day ended with an incredible sense of satisfaction. 
 
 *Announce the approaching station, stop the train, open doors, shut doors, move to the next station. * A job well done. Rinse and repeat. 
 
 I was pulled out of my routine when I noticed a disruption. Indicators on the dash board revealed that a door was stuck. My joints cracked as I moved out the locomotive cab and made my way down the train to find the offending door. No passengers or alien objects were obstructing the doors, indicating that it was either a mechanical or system issue. A rarity. 
 
 I tilt my head as I scan the inside of the train car. The seats were empty, which was almost unheard of during this time of day. Now that I thought about it, it had been a while since I had had any passenger interaction. Dust coated the patchy seats and scratched up windows. The maintenance department was not doing their job. 
 
 I had no control over the passengers or the maintenance department though. My job was merely to bring any passengers that did arrive from point A to point B. Loaded or not, the train had to continue operating. 
 
 I head back to the locomotive cab and proceed with a reboot. The train powers down and I make a note in my log of the incident. As the lights flicker on and the dashboard returns to life, I note with satisfaction that the problematic door had closed. Everything was back on track. 
 
 Days flow by like sand once again but the sense of satisfaction did not return. *Announce the approaching station, stop the train, open doors, shut doors, move to the next station. * I was performing my job flawlessly –a job well done except there no longer seemed to be any purpose without any passengers. 
 
 Yet there was nothing I could do. I knew of nothing other than operating this train so I continued to run the train in hopes that the unruly passengers would return. 
 
 Time drags by now. The train is getting old, its parts becoming less reliable and I feel age wear away at me as well. Nonetheless, I dutifully continue running the train as well as I could. 
 
 The door indicator lights up again and I drag my body out to inspect the train. I stop when I notice two humans on the platform. Something like excitement flows through me at the thought of being able to transport something from point A to point B again. 
 
 “ It looks like this little one is still operational, ” the smaller human notes as she faces me. 
 
 I felt pride in being able to keep my train operational given the circumstances. The vehicle was old and worn, but still able to do its job. 
 
 The taller human approaches me. “ We can definitely get some good parts from it. ” 
 
 Confusion washes over me as he reaches forward and then darkness overtakes me.
