Train

2:20 p.m. – Train station

Neither of them had expected a train ticket to change their lives.

It was a warm day and she had decided she was finally going to leave, get out of the small town she had grown up in. That morning she finalized her plans and kissed her mother goodbye on the way out the door. She was now standing in the middle of the train station looking up at the large display which showed the coming departures and arrivals. Departure to Seattle: 2:35 p.m. Fifteen minutes from now, she thought, referencing her watch. Around her people seemed to be frantically going from one place to the next, coming home, leaving, escaping. She thought about how each person had their stories that led them here, a reason for leaving or coming home. She looked down at the ticket and felt a small lump of anxiety rise in her stomach. No, she thought. I can't back out now. Something about this time had felt right. She knew that this was what she needed to do. So, with her hand tightening around the handle of her luggage and one last look at the ticket, she started toward the train platform. She didn't know it, but he walked right in front of her as she did so.

He was groggy and sweating under the many layers he had bundled himself in. His worn-out boots left scuff marks on the nice tile floor as he made his way to the ticketing booth. As he approached he could sense the judgment radiating off the old woman behind the desk. He noticed her looking him up and down. She was taking in his appearance. A young boy, a single duffel bag, in a sweatshirt under a jacket. He was wearing a scarf and a hat that didn't quite fit his head. His jeans had a gaping hole in the right knee and his boots had just left an obvious trail of black marks that followed him to the very place he stood. He chuckled to himself as the lady behind the desk – whose name tag identified her as Carol – took a dramatic intake of breath and prepared her best fake smile. Typical. Carol was a bit too nosy for his liking. “Not from here, are you, could tell by the scarf and such.” “Yeah, most people from here can survive this cold in just their unmentionables.” Carol thought this was exceedingly funny. He nodded, patiently waiting for his ticket. “You're headed to Seattle are you? Better bring an umbrella. Julie, the young one working two booths down, used to live there, says they get rain in every season. Every day. What's in Seattle?” Carol inquired. Not wanting to be rude, he responded with a simple “opportunity.” Carol eyed him, confused. However, she finally handed him the ticket. He smiled at the ticket, then at Carol. He turned and started toward the direction of the bathrooms. He had a long ride ahead of him, and not much time until his train left. He didn't know it, but she had nearly bumped into him as he sped past her.

2:33 p.m. – Train platform

The harsh air whipped around her, throwing her hair into a spiraling mess as she stepped outside. She felt her cheeks instantly flush against the biting winds. Her stomach was in knots as she tightened her grip on the ticket in her hand. Her shoes made too much noise compared to the quiet that loomed over the platform. She approached a seat and allowed herself to take a breath. As she did so she looked at the people that were waiting. At the furthest end of the platform stood a businessman. He had a single briefcase and was furiously typing on his phone. He was dressed in a very sharp, clearly expensive suit. That doesn't look comfortable, she thought, considering the long train ride ahead of them. A bit further down stood a small family. A mother was bent down fixing a scarf around her son’s neck; he was fussing a bit and pulling back as his sister watched, smiling to herself. Enjoy it, kid. Suddenly, she began to feel a rumble at the ground at her feet. Turning to look down the tracks, she saw the train fast approaching. This is it. As she stepped toward the slowing train, he ran, finally reaching the platform. They almost missed their chances.

2:38 p.m. – Train

He heard the cries of an angry toddler before he had seen the source. He prayed to be as far away from the family as possible; he didn't want his long train ride to be encompassed by the sounds of an annoyed mother and restless toddler. He shut his eyes tightly as the family approached. Their footsteps came and went and he let out a sigh of relief. Opening his eyes, he noticed a girl who was patiently standing behind a tall, lanky man in a patched sweater. She was frantically looking for her seat and carrying a large bag. Something in him made his stomach flip and made his head swim with thoughts.

She followed the crying child as he was tugged along behind his mother. Just before stepping up the aisle, a rather tall man shoved his way into the small amount of space left between her and the family. She nearly stepped on his foot as he forced his way in front of her. Shaking her head, she continued forward. Upon entering the train she was met with another wave of anxiety. She knew that half of her was dying to run back to the safety of her home and if she didn't find her seat soon, she just might do it. Quickly she found her seat and tried to get her things organized. She shoved her smallest bag underneath her seat and sat with a sigh; there was no turning back. As she looked up, his eyes were already fixed on her. He had the type of look that made her forget what she was thinking, the type of eyes that made her smile in a dumb sort of way, but she couldn't stop staring.

“Hi, my name is Parker.”

“Hi, I’m Sam.”

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