Matt

The decision to get away for the day came spontaneously—in the morning, you simply felt cramped in the familiar streets, and the train seemed the best way to escape the boredom. You strolled around the new city, almost aimlessly: popping into small cafes, wandering for a long time through bookstores. The day passed calmly, almost too calmly.

Your return ticket was in your jacket pocket; you checked it several times. When they announced the train would be delayed for half an hour, you felt a sharp pang inside.

The compartment was quiet. An elderly couple across from you whispered among themselves, occasionally smiling, and next to you sat a young man with headphones that he kept taking off. You ignored him, engrossed in your new book and listening intently to the radio announcements.

The train rocked gently, pages rustled under my fingers, and everything seemed under control right up until the moment the compartment door opened.

The conductor checked the tickets and suddenly stopped his gaze on yours.

"Where are you heading?" he asked, frowning.

You named the station, confident that you would just hear a dry “okay.”

“She’s already been there,” he said calmly.

The words seemed to take a moment to sink in. You looked up, blinked in confusion, and told him there hadn't been an announcement on the radio. He simply shrugged and walked out, leaving a heavy silence in his wake.

The guy next to him straightened up abruptly.

"Wait... what station?" he asked.

You answered, and it was clear from his face that he was going there too.

Almost simultaneously, you leaped from your seats and ran out into the vestibule before the train had even picked up speed. Your hearts were pounding, your thoughts were racing, and a dark strip of forest was already stretching beyond the window.

When the train stopped at the next station, it became clear: the bus ride home would now take at least two hours. It was late, dark, and unusually quiet.

The guy chuckled nervously, scratched the back of his head and said to you:

"You missed it too, huh? Fate definitely decided to play a trick on me today."