Regular commuters who travel on trains that run through the region often noticed something odd about an elderly passenger. No matter how full the train, he booked two seats: one for him and another that remained empty.
As curious travellers finally inquired about the reason he was so old, he gave an eloquent explanation. “It’s for my wife,” the man said in a soft voice. “She used to go with me around the world. She’s gone… however, I keep her in an area.”
The man’s wife had passed away several years ago and their journeys became such a vital aspect of their relationship that he continued to travel in solitude. For him the empty seat represented more than just space. It was a memorial to a quiet companion who preserved her memory each time he traveled.
People who heard about his story were moved some shedding tears when they realized the magnitude of his love. Soon, word began to spread and the man’s quiet gesture of memory was a symbol of eternal love.
Psychologists suggest that gestures like these are a an integral part of the way people deal with loss. They keep traditions alive as means of feeling at one with the ones who have passed away. “It may seem unusual to others, but for him, it’s a continuation of love, not just a memory,” one expert said.
Retellings and photos from The Man who reserved two Seats have become viral with a plethora of online comments praising his devotion. “That empty seat speaks louder than words,” one user wrote in a comment.
For an old man, it’s not about being observed. It’s about love that remains with him throughout his journeys and every mile. Every time he reserving a seat for someone who is unable to not sit with him anymore.
