Let's never judge a book by it's cover.

'To Each Her Own'
A short short-story

“Go back to your own hell!” He whispered in her ear.

Startled, she turned. Then looked away. She adjusted her scarf and pulled the black robe tightly around her. She stared ahead.

A little girl started coughing and gasping. The mother cried out.

She jumped from her seat. “I'm trained in Emergency First-aid”, she mumbled before bracing for the Heimlich maneuver. The smiling blue eyes of her instructor flashed through her mind, '...might save a life someday.'

“Aa-aagh” the child coughed up the ice-lolly blocking her airway. She put her down gently.

Tears of gratitude filled the mother's eyes.

A sudden round of applause burst out around her. Surprised, she looked up and met their eyes - appreciative... grateful.

The train stopped. The door slid open. She stepped out; a spring in her step.

“Hey!” He called out. She turned. He raised his hand.

She raised hers, before melting into the crowd.

********

Tahera Sajid.