1/2/12

The Next Train
By Julie Lye


“The next train at platform two is the 06.40 to Cambridge, calling at Baldock, Ashwell & Morden, Royston, Meldreth, Shepreth and Foxton.”

Alex’s morning commute began this way every day. It was a freezing February morning and as usual he wanted to make sure he got the middle carriage. The station itself had peeling walls and an aura of neglect. He was standing in the centre of the platform when a young woman brushed passed. He breathed in and smelt the fragrant scent of her perfume then watched her walk on.  She was slender, about five foot five, wore a large overcoat and a cream woollen hat.

The train arrived, Alex boarded and began going through his task list. He worked in an auction house and was in charge of cataloguing the lots. Some days it was really interesting and others were more mundane. There was no one special in his life; in fact he’d always considered himself a bit of a nerd. Yes, he liked reading, the arts, the theatre - and he was just a little shy.

The next morning he caught a glimpse of the young woman again - intrigued he walked further down the platform and studied her. She hadn’t even noticed him as she was engrossed in her novel. He couldn’t quite catch the title from his position but he guessed it was likely to be the latest celebrity biography or one of those raunchy Jackie Collins books.

As the weeks progressed Alex realised that, increasingly, all his thoughts were of this mysterious woman. He could close his eyes and imagine the scent of her perfume, Poison by Christian Dior, could see her reading her novel while her free hand would unconsciously reach to her forehead and brush away her fringe.  

As the season warmed she left off her hat and he saw that her hair was mid length and the most vibrant copper colour he’d ever seen while her eyes were crystal blue, almost opaque.  

She was beautiful.

He’d even started dreaming about her; often they were in another place, in another time, a prince and princess who loved each other.  Every evening he would take her in his arms and they would dance the night away.  Each morning he would wake, to a cold and lonely reality!

At the station he could only just catch the merest hint of her perfume as it was masked by a different smell.  What was it? Coffee! The station had just installed a vending machine and she had obviously purchased a cup.  The young woman made her way directly to him - Alex remained rooted to the spot.

She smiled and handed him the coffee, “I hope you like it sweet and white.” Alex spluttered out a thank you and took the drink. She introduced herself, said her name was Katlin and hoped he’d forgive her for being so forward.   She explained that she’d been watching him watching her, and was tired of waiting for him to speak. Tongue-tied Alex just nodded whilst sipping his piping hot coffee.   What aftershave did I use?  Do I look ok? Why can’t I speak? All these thoughts rushed through his head. What, he wondered, was wrong with him?

He heard the train announcer, “The next train at this platform is the love train… stopping for Alex and Katlin heading for some enchanted evening.”  

Now he was definitely hearing things! Snap out of it, he told himself, she was waiting for a reply. “Coffee, great, thanks” he managed to utter. He looked up into her eyes and garbled the next sentence.  “Would you, you know…to the pictures?   They’re showing some… err, classics.”

“I’m free Saturday night if that’s okay? Where and when shall we meet?”

He suggested they met at the station and catch the 18.11 which would get them into town in plenty of time - they could even grab a coffee first!


The rest of his day was spent daydreaming; perhaps that’s why it happened. He was on the pavement waiting to cross the road when a small white van hurtled towards him. There was no time to fully get out of the way.  He had twisted to his left when the van hit him sending him flying into the air before crashing into a lamp post. The van sped off and he was left draped around the street light like a rag doll.

That Saturday evening Katlin waited at the platform for the 18.11 train.  It was punctual and left without her.  No Alex - perhaps he was already in town waiting for her.  How she wished they had exchanged telephone numbers.  At 18.56 she caught the next train in and made her way to the cinema where she waited in the foyer.  After three hours, and endless lonely coffees, she watched the last film showing on her own.  Oh dear, she was daft.  What had her Nanna always told her? That was it, ‘Men do not like pushy women Katlin, remember that.’ She wished she had!

The following Monday morning Katlin was waiting at the far end of the platform for the 06.40 train to arrive. She’d been discreetly looking out for Alex but hadn’t seen him and decided he obviously hadn’t been as serious about them as she had imagined.


Alex awoke in a hospital bed seven days later. He had no idea who or where he was and was uncertain as to whether he was actually awake as he couldn’t see. He coughed and tried to speak but his throat was dry.  A nurse looked up and immediately called a doctor who sat beside him for a long while discussing the treatment he had undergone and the therapy that was available for him.  It seemed there was a long and difficult period of convalescing ahead…

***

It was now a freezing Monday morning in November and Alex stood on the platform with Toby. He was restless and fidgety but Toby stood firm. Although they had only known each other for four months Toby was the rock which Alex needed, ever loyal, ever faithful and always by his side.

Something was bothering Alex. “Toby, old boy, I feel I’ve forgotten something although I ‘m not sure what. It feels really important although I know I still haven’t got all my memory back.  But this feeling, it just seems so strong sitting here at the station.” He laughed at himself. “Listen to me talking to you as if you could understand!”  Alex fished in his pocket and pulled out a biscuit for Toby his guide dog. The accident Alex had eight months ago had left him blind and with gaps in his memory. The doctors had been amazed at the progress Alex had made so far, as for a while it had been touch and go.  Until the swelling and bleeding from the brain had subsided they’d been unable to hold out too much hope for him.

“The next train at this platform is the 06.40 to Cambridge, calling at Baldock, Ashwell & Morden, Royston, Meldreth, Shepreth and Foxton.”

As Alex got up from his seat, he caught a scent on the wind, he frowned as his head followed the aroma and he heard himself whisper a name, ‘Katlin.’
Who was this Katlin and why was she important to him? Then it came to him like a slap across the cheek, she was someone he’d wanted to be a part of his life, his old life that was.  Who on Earth would want a blind man?  An image of her appeared in his minds eye, slender, well dressed, with piercing crystal blue eyes and vibrant copper hair.  A tear trickled out of the corner of his eye. Nobody saw it - his dark glasses hid the teardrop very well - only Toby knew something was wrong with his master.
He could smell hot coffee, he turned his head to each side, sniffing, trying to locate its position.

Next he heard a gentle voice.  “Hello Alex, I’ve been waiting for you.  Who’s your friend?”


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I have joined a writers group this year and our group leader encourages us to submit our endeavours for publication. I have tried a horror story but to no avail. This is my second piece of work this year.