SALLY was feeling lucky: she had a seat. The commuter train had fewer carriages than usual, so by the time it arrived at Wallyford all the seats were gone and people were cramming in like proverbial sardines. But everyone squeezed on, somehow.

The train then pulled away, but it wasn’t a smooth departure.

The train shuddered for a few moments and the passengers who were standing were pushed up against each other.

That’s when Sally noticed the old lady.

She was holding onto the pole but seemed unsteady on her feet as the train built up speed.

There was so little standing room another passenger’s rucksack pressed against her face and she looked very uncomfortable.

Sally felt sorry for her and wondered if anyone would offer the lady a seat.

There was a young man sitting close to where the old lady stood.

He had noticed her for sure because he’d glanced at her several times. He could surely see she was elderly and in some discomfort.

But he remained firmly in his seat, scrolling on his phone, pretending not to notice the old lady.

The train arrived at Musselburgh station.

She peered out of the window and realised it was almost a mathematical impossibility that everyone standing on the platform would be able to board the train.

She was right, but it didn’t stop them trying – people with lots of different reasons to get to Edinburgh, desperate not to be late.

So, after Musselburgh, the overcrowding was even worse.

The train shunted out of the station and Sally looked up and searched for the old woman.

Her hand was no longer on the pole. She was having to stand without support, wedged between two other passengers.

Then the train slowed and stopped. They were at Meadowbank.

“We apologise for the delay,” a voice said over the tannoy.

“We will be approximately 10 minutes late due works on the line.”

The old lady was clearly uncomfortable but everyone, including the young man, were pretending not to notice her, glued to their phones.

It was clear nobody else was going to do the right thing, so she reluctantly stood up and called over to the old lady: “Excuse me, would you like this seat, it’s free.”

The lady nodded and gave Sally a very thankful smile.

Everyone looked up, as the old woman made her way through the crowd.

The standing passengers shuffled like penguins to make space for her, so she could get to the seat.

But before she reached it, the young man stood up.

“Here, you can have my seat.”

The old lady wasn’t sure what to do.

She glanced at Sally, who was now standing by her vacant seat.

Suddenly, the train began to move again, taking people by surprise.

The movement of the train made the lady unsteady, so she was compelled to sit on the seat offered by the young man, which was closer to her.

Sally initially felt annoyed with the young man because he could have offered his seat much earlier, but only did so after she had offered hers.

She wasn’t sure why this annoyed her so much, but it did. But at least he had finally offered his seat; better late than never, she thought. Everyone else had just ignored the old lady, so she should be annoyed with them.

Eventually, the train pulled into Waverley, and people flooded off.

Sally remained in her seat, waiting until the rush was over. The old lady took her time and gave Sally a sweet smile as she passed her.

“Thank you, dear,” said the lady.

“Standing is painful for me these days, due to the wretched arthritis in my knees.”

Sally smiled in acknowledgement.

The old lady got off the train and now Sally stood up.

The carriage was empty and she held onto the handrail which helped her walk to the luggage rack.

She collected her crutches, then slowly, and with great care, she got off the train.

Her legs were having a bad day, more painful than usual, but at least she’d had a seat this time.