January 6, 1978. It was 8:00 pm. I was resting on the platform with a make-shift bed, crafted from old newspapers. Suddenly, a horde of people rushed in. What was all the fuss about? Turns out that it was the Alatina Express’ maiden voyage. At long last, it had arrived.
I was a poor orphan at the time, living on the platforms of Alatina station. An invisibility to society, I didn’t get what all the commotion was about. ‘Just let me sleep in peace’ I thought as my shivering body tried to cope with the unbearable cold.
Within the next hour, all the passengers had disembarked and exited the station. The Alatina Express stood in silence just beside the desolate platform. Fortunately, I was in for another quiet night. Unfortunately, the weather was absolutely frigid.
As we approached the late hours of the night, I heard the door creak.
“Who’s there?” I shouted.
A faint voice replied, “Plea…..Please don’t hurt me. I’m just here to help you.”
It was the first time I saw her. A goddess standing under the moonlight sky. A tingle of ecstasy rushed through my veins as I was transported to a field of dandelions. For years, I had been haunted by eerie, malignant creatures who were oblivious to my existence. Those walls had now been infiltrated.
“Hello there. I’m Sabine. I brought this for you. You seem awfully cold.”
There it was again, that soothing voice. That unknown kindness. For me, requesting bread would be a heinous crime. Now someone is offering me a blanket? People would donate me food and clothes only to take pictures and retrieve it back. For those rich scumbags, an act of fame was superior to aiding a child. Over the years, I had almost gotten used to it. Yet, this time, there were no cameras. Only a singular smile that I was unable to fathom.
My experience taught me not to trust anyone. My intuition told me to forget that. And my brain left me to figure out the dilemma myself.
“Why are you doing this?” I asked
“Huh?”
“Why are you helping me? I’m just a miserable brat who is destined to die.”
Without any words, she just sat beside me and held me in her arms; The silky texture of her hands comforting me.
“No reason. I just wanted to help you”
“But no one cares about me. My parents left me here to die. I have nothing to eat and no one to talk to,” I cried.
“But now you do,” replied Sabine.
Tears were spiralling down my cheeks. The locks of my lacklustre label of feelings were open. After a decade of suffering, I had a friend. I gathered myself once again and politely expressed my gratitude. For a moment, the whole area became silent. A few minutes later, we found ourselves chatting like long-term buddies. How can two teenagers who just met be so cheerful and carefree? In hindsight, I prefer you ask Sabine.
“I have to go now. I promised my parents I’ll be home by 10 and now it’s 11. At this rate, I’ll be lucky to stay alive”
I chuckled and said , “Sure. We’ll talk some other day.”
“Of course,” she replied and scurried away, her expression morphing into one of anguish.
However, at the time, I was blinded by euphoria. My brain perceived her sad face as being regretful to her parents. Thus, I went on my merry way, back to my bed with new memories and a good night’s sleep.
Most people would eagerly wait for the next day. So did I. But Christmas wasn’t here just yet. I proceeded to wait a week. Still no presents. What about a month? Nothing. A year should suffice, right? When the gift hadn’t arrived, I realised that she had escaped from my life. Being a realist, disappointment never fazed me but this time, my colours faded for good.
44 years had passed. I was an enigma, unknown to myself. I was reminded of my childhood. A lonely soul scraping through life. That day was supposed to be no different.
Whilst I was boiling amidst the torrid heatwave, the Alatina Express appeared out of the blue. It was the train’s final journey. As I observed the wave of passengers get off, my eyes focused on her. It couldn’t be, could it? It was. It was Sabine.
I was stunned beyond belief. As I was trying to process reality, Sabine approached me.
“Li….Liam, is that you?” asked an astonished Sabine.
“Yes”, I managed.
She sat beside me and I was reminded once again why I had waited for her. There was no exchange of any words. We just hugged each other and started bawling, much to the confusion of everyone around us. After our eyes ran out of water, she held me in her arms once more as we were transported back to that fateful day. Soon, the vantablack night had engulfed the local train as Sabine left me one more time. This time, with closure and at peace.