February 3, 2017Gravity had taken her goods, time had stolen her stout, the grey in her hair shimmered in the sun’s stutter in the shadows of endless telephone poles, and she knew less now than she had twenty years before this moment…sitting against a window on a morning train.
The muffled thunder in the tracks traveled from car to car. Swooshing and electric buzzing pushed on in a lulling lacrimosa. Disinfectant-drenched seats welcomed the people who missed the call, an obscene picture of mouths agape waiting for the spoon that would not come, a beckon to deaf ears, a clamor that faded in time in the mind of those who stayed behind.
She reached with her index finger and pressed it against the cool glass. The butterflies adorned the countryside. Children raced after a chocolate Labrador, screaming, waving a stick around, kicking their shoes up into the air. A distant barn sat quiet and still while its faded red paint endured another beating.
“May I sit here, “ asked an old man dressed in grey and white. “I promise, I won’t bite.”
“No, not at all. Please, please sit,” she said delivering a small smile.
“Okay, good. Now your boyfriend isn’t going to come out of that restroom and beat me to a pulp, is he?”
“No boyfriend,” she said raising her eyebrows.
“I find that hard to believe, young lady.”
“Not so young anymore.”
“You are right about that. Nothing ever stays the same does it? Of course, somethings seem to never change.”
“Yes, I think I know what you mean.”
“All the places we could have seen in our time and we simply never got to it.”
“Yes.”
“The things we could have done.”
“…I–“
“Oh, listen to me, rambling. I simply project, child, don’t take it personal.”
“No, I wasn’t…”
“When you’ve seen all the things I have, you get…well…complacent. Nothing shocks you anymore. And you wished it would. You wish something would rattle your cage. But, nothing ever does.”
“Where are you headed?”
“Oh, If I told you, you wouldn’t believe me.”
“Well, I don’t see why not.”
“Let’s just say, we are headed to the same place.”
“Fair enough.”
“Now, tell me…are you happy?”
“What?”
“Are you happy?”
“What an odd question.”
“Not so odd. It’s a simple question, really.”
“Well,” she said with a long sigh,”I’m as happy as the next gal, I suppose.”
“You don’t sound too happy.”
“I feel blessed to be this happy.”
“You don’t deserve more?”
“Is happiness about deserving?”
“I thought so. Have things changed?”
“I am sorry, I don’t even know your name.”
“My name is Nicholas. And with whom do I have the pleasure?”
“Lilith.”
“Nice to meet you Lilith.”
“You too. How old are you, sorry if that’s a rude question.”
“No, not old at all.”
“Well?”
“I’m old enough to be your grandfather’s grandfather.”
“Ha, ha…oh, you can’t be that old.”
“Sure feels like it sometimes.”
“Tell me about it.”
“It is almost time,” he said fixing his tie and stretching out his neck.
“Your destination?”
“Tell me, Lilith, did you do it all?”
“Do what?”
“The things you wanted.”
“Is this my destination also?” She said with slow alarm.
“I’m afraid it is. I am far too old to deal with trouble. Your comportment is refreshing.”
“I just didn’t think it was going to be this soon.”
“If I had a tall glass of lemonade for every time I heard that.”
“No point in running is there?”
“No, I’m sorry.”
“Okay, do you mind if I look at the butterflies against all that green…alone…for the rest of the trip?”
“Be my guest.”
∞
