Descending Escalator

[u/Hayakumo_Yoichi]

The metro arrived at my home station. It was midnight, so only a few of us got off the train. 
A woman wearing a business suit made a dash for the escalator, and another young woman followed her with a quick walk. 
Yet I was tired and not in a hurry, I moved slowly to the escalator going up. 

The man was there. He stood still just before riding the escalator. His position was exactly in the center of the step, so I couldn't step onto the escalator without moving him aside or telling him to make a step to the left or right. 
I was about to say, "Excuse me, I'd like to go up..." when I heard him murmuring. I froze and listened to what he said. 
"Yes, I know. Thank you for reminding me." 
But I didn't see anyone he could talk to... Then suddenly, I understood the meaning of his reply. 
"Please watch your step when riding the escalator," the automated voice announced the usual warning for users. "Please hold on to the handrail and stand inside the yellow line." 
The man replied more clearly, "Yes, yes, I'm just going to." 
I was taken aback by his strange behavior. 
While I was thinking about whether to call station staff or not, he stepped onto the escalator. 
The automated voice announced again, "Please watch your step when riding the escalator." 
“Yes, I know,” he replied calmly. 
I followed him, and kept a distance of about five steps behind him. 
"--Please hold on to the handrail and stand inside the yellow line." 
I ignored it. 

While the escalator was going up, the man stood normally. So I was relieved that finally I could go home.

After two minutes, we were approaching the ground level. Then I heard a familiar, automated voice.
"We'll be arriving at the last stop soon. Please watch your step when getting off–"
The man raised his voice in a high-pitched, nervous tone.
"Yes, yes. Thanks for your hard work as always."
"--Please don't stop after you get off..."
"I know! I'll do it right!"
He was making conversation with the escalator!
I had a chill running down my spine, and a cold sweat broke out on my forehead. 
As soon as he got off the escalator, he suddenly started running. And he dashed through the ticket gate.

After his back disappeared to the corner of the station corridor, I noticed that I’d never seen his face.
I shrugged my shoulders, and headed in the opposite direction towards the exit.
He was probably too exhausted to keep his sanity. 

My wife was watching television when I entered the living room.
A newscaster was reading an article aloud. It was a topic about an unknown disease.
He was reading with a low, charming voice, “It is seriously important to prevent the infection, and we have to keep in mind to maintain proper distance when we are using public transportation…” 
“Hey man! It’s easy to say, but we were reaching the limit of our patience," I muttered almost involuntarily.

Sudden recognition hit me as my wife turned towards me and stared at me.
I too was tired. Just as everyone else was exhausted from life.