"A Bunch of Burned-Out Bulbs"

 

As the five-fifteen train leaves the downtown station, the passengers tip their heads back against the seats and close their eyes--or most of them do, anyway; some of them allow their heads to sink to the side and let their gazes flatline out the window. Their books lie shut in their laps, or their newspapers folded; they hold their phones but are too tired now to use them.

The conductor shuts off the overhead lights so that the commuters can rest, and the car grows even dimmer.