Short Story: Waiting (taken From 'scars'

Short Story: Waiting (taken From 'scars'

The air is cold and moist, thick with fog. It sends a shiver down my spine as I stand there in the empty station.

A church bell rings in the distance. Midnight.

An owl hoots, I spin round on the spot.

“Fucking owl.” I mutter to myself, stuffing my hands further into the pockets of my thin black jacket.

Fuck, its cold.

I look down the platform, not another soul in sight. Nor any sign of my train.

The dim strip lighting in the station flickers every time the wind blows.

I wish I’d brought more clothes than this. I’m wearing all the clothes I own now. But I didn’t have time to pack. There hadn’t been time for anything. I’d barely managed to pick up my mobile on my way out. A quick text sent to the only person who would read a text from me and then switched off.

The church bell tolls again. Quarter past Midnight.

The door leading to the deserted car park squeals in protest and bangs against the crumbling brick wall. It makes me jump. Again.

I’ve done a lot of jumping tonight. Over fences, walls, roof gaps. The noise though, the noise has made me jump the most tonight. Any bang, any rustle, anything.

I glance down the platform again, still no sign of life. There isn’t one of those electronic signs telling you when the next train is due in this place. I’ve checked. I’ve checked for what feels like a hundred times. Nothing. Not even one of those timetables behind dirty plastic casing.

But I didn’t choose this place for its train timetables. No. I chose it because I knew no one was likely to come here. I couldn’t be sure of course, but it was my best option given the lack of time I’d had.

Time.

I was sure I’d had more of it...

The church bell rings again. Half past midnight.

“Where is that damn train?” I mutter angrily to myself.

Despite the lack of timetables in this cold station I know that there is meant to be a train around now. I’ve been preparing for this for quite some time.

And yet there had been so little time...

But I’d known about the train, and this station. Those were the two near certainties about this trip.

A light in the distance. Finally. I heave a sigh of relief. I was starting to think it was never going to arrive in time.

The wind howls louder, driving icy rain into my face. The station door bangs again. I don’t jump this time. I’m used to it by now.

The train pulls up to the platform. It’s just one carriage, that’s all I need though.

Footsteps behind me.

I should have jumped when that door banged.

I run towards the train door, wrenching it open. I jump on, hauling the door behind me, locking it.

Safe. I hope.