【the（terminal）】In the heart of a bustling city, where the rhythm of life never slows down, there exists a place that stands apart from the chaos. It is not a grand hotel or a high-rise office, but something far more ordinary: a terminal. A place where people come and go, where stories are told in fleeting moments, and where the passage of time feels both endless and fleeting.

The terminal is more than just a building with platforms and gates. It is a microcosm of human experience. Travelers from all walks of life gather here—businessmen rushing to catch a flight, families saying goodbye, tourists looking for directions, and the occasional wanderer who has no destination in mind. Each person carries their own story, their own purpose, and their own silence.

For some, the terminal is a starting point. They arrive with a suitcase in one hand and a nervous smile on their face, unsure of what lies ahead. For others, it is an ending. They step off the train or plane, carrying the weight of a journey that has changed them in ways they may not yet understand.

There is a strange kind of peace in the terminal. The noise of announcements, the hum of footsteps, the soft murmur of conversations—it all blends into a background melody that few take the time to notice. Yet, within this noise, there are moments of stillness. A child watching the planes take off, a couple sharing a quiet moment before parting ways, an elderly man sitting alone, lost in thought.

The terminal also holds the memory of those who have passed through. Some leave behind nothing but a ticket stub, while others leave behind stories that linger in the air long after they are gone. It is a place where time seems to stretch and contract at the same time, where the past and future collide in the present.

In many ways, the terminal is a metaphor for life itself. We all pass through different stages, meeting people along the way, some we will never see again, others who will stay with us forever. And like the terminal, life is full of transitions—some planned, some unexpected, but all necessary.

So the next time you find yourself in a terminal, take a moment to look around. Listen to the sounds, observe the faces, and perhaps, you will find something meaningful in the ordinary. Because sometimes, the most profound moments happen in the places we rush through without a second thought.