East-West Line breakdown: A commuter's nightmare

I remember it like it was yesterday. I was running late for work, as usual, and I was rushing to catch the East-West Line. When I finally made it to the platform, I could see that the train was already arriving. I ran as fast as I could, but it was no use. The doors closed right in front of me, and I was left standing there, defeated.

I know, I know, it's a first-world problem. But when you're running late for work, every second counts. And when you're stuck on a crowded platform, waiting for a train that's not coming, it can feel like an eternity.

I waited for 10 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes. The train was still nowhere to be seen. I started to get anxious. I had a meeting in an hour, and I was going to be late.

Finally, after 45 minutes, the train arrived. I squeezed my way on, and we were off. But the journey was far from over. The train was packed, and it was hot and stuffy. I could feel the sweat dripping down my back.

We crawled along, stopping at every station. Each stop was another opportunity for more people to cram onto the train. By the time we reached my stop, I was exhausted. I had been on the train for over an hour, and I still had to walk to work.

I finally made it to my office, an hour and a half late. I was greeted with sympathetic looks from my colleagues. They had all heard about the train breakdown, and they knew how frustrating it must have been.

I'm not going to lie, I was pretty annoyed. But I also knew that there was nothing I could do about it. The train breakdown was out of my control, and I just had to accept it.

But the experience did make me realize how lucky I am. I have a job, and I have a place to live. I'm not stranded in a foreign country, or living in a war zone.

So next time you're stuck on a crowded train, or waiting for a train that's not coming, try to remember that there are people who are worse off than you. And try to be patient. The train will come eventually.