The Train (Part I)

Somehow the wind had slipped beneath her coat, arising a chill in the form of goose bumps against the fabric of her clothes. Huddled against it, buttoned up and shrinking a bit into the warm embrace of her scarf. Gloved hand held a half smoked cigarette and she pulled it to her lips for a satisfying drag. She sat on the cold pavement, knees drawn up, hay toned locks dancing over cold reddened face.

Her dark hazel gaze wandered over the faces of the hurried people heading either direction on the platform. Each just as oblivious as the next to each other, brushing shoulders the bulk of their interaction. She flicked the precarious ash from the end of her cigarette and took the risk of another chill to shove up her right sleeve to check the time. Half past, it was late.

Down the way her attention was drawn, a cry broken the monotony of street noise and people. A little girl had tripped, nothing serious but she was bright red with tears as a few surrounding passers by stopped and gave the situation more attention then it was due. Watching through the stream of smoke that swirled away in the wind from the cherry of her cigarette, she wondered if people really gave a damn or if it was all just for show.

In the distance a long deep whistle blew. Again she checked the hands of her watch, one last drag off the tail end of her savored cigarette before crushing the embers into the brick wall she sat leaned against. She pushed off the ground to her feet, lifting her bag to her shoulder as she rolled one ankle then the next to work out the pins and needles.

From around the corner like a growing miniature, the train chugged forward on the track. As it grew closer the mechanics drowned out the murmurs of people, several now standing in small groups waiting to board. The engine made it's way past as it slowed to a stop with a deafening hiss. After a moment the doors of each car began to open, employees stepping off first followed by a few passengers who had found the end of their line.

She pulled the ticket from her pocket, holding it within her gloved hand as she reread the line stating "One Way." She let her feet finally move and they carried her to one of the last cars. An older man with a friendly smile greeted her beside the door, hand extended for her ticket.

"Good morning, miss." He stamped her ticket and handed it back. "Hope you have a good trip. Watch your step."

Again he offered her that friendly smile before moving on to a patron near by. She tightened her clutch on the strap of her bag and took the step up onto the train. Her dark hazel hues swept the platform one last time before she disappeared into the shelter of the car.


(I hope to continue work on this, it's my first attempt at a short story in quite some time so bare with me. I've lost the flow of things and I'm trying to get it back. Let's see where this girl goes shall we?)