Two minutes later, the train pulled into the next station, grinding to a sudden, mechanical halt. The doors remained shut for an unannounced signal hold. Determined to flaunt her total indifference to the angry crowd staring at her, the woman tried to nonchalantly toss her heavy, condensation-covered coffee cup into the side mesh pocket of her luxury handbag sitting on the empty seat.
Because the plastic cup was slippery with sweat and she wasn't looking properly—eyes glued back to her phone screen—her fingers misjudged the distance. Her manicured hand slipped right off the rim.
Instead of sliding into the pocket, the heavy, lid-heavy plastic cup caught the hard leather edge of her purse, flipped upside down in mid-air, and exploded directly into her own lap.