The earth shook and the train car quaked, its wheels unable to connect with the track below.
The man who took up two seats was a very important looking man, wearing the type of suit that would have been cut just for him. As the top of the train hit the side of the tunnel, he tumbled across the aisle and landed on his left wrist with a sickening crack.
He cried out for a doctor, but the woman who stepped forward was only a nurse. She helped him sit and asked what we could spare, gathering aspirin, water, and a light linen scarf.
When his wrist had been wrapped, she sat down beside him and held his good hand.
We waited an hour for the emergency crew to arrive. The nurse kept the man talking to distract from his pain, and the rest of us learned about trading and markets.
He left on a stretcher, demanding morphine without a word of thanks. I approached the tiny round woman with the mousy brown hair.
“You were really amazing back there.”
Her face flushed with the mixture of embarrassment and pride found in one unaccustomed to accepting compliments.
“It's just my job,” she said with a shrug. “But it's nice to know that it matters.”
Inspired by the 5 Minute Freewrite Prompt - Earthquake provided by the lovely 