The train had not yet arrived at the station. The thin fog of the morning was only just beginning to fade. Juliana hoped that it would not leave before she had. To board the train under a blue sky would seem too naked and affronting. Better to be in the shroud, hidden.
There was the sound of footsteps through the fog. They sounded rather urgent. But Juliana paid them no mind. She clenched her handbag and took a deep breath. Why, oh why would the train not arrive? It couldn’t be late, it just couldn’t.
The footsteps came closer, too close now for Juliana to ignore them completely. She turned and looked. Almost instantly she looked away, hoping that her face had remained unseen. But that could not be. If two people who know each other are alone upon a train platform together, it is inevitable that both of them will recognize each other. Such was the case here.
“Juliana?” asked the young man who approached her. She winced. Of course it was him. It could be no one else in the world.
“Avery, why are you here?” Juliana asked, closing her eyes and wishing very much for the train to arrive.
“I came to say goodbye.” Avery sounded somewhat dejected now that Juliana had asked her question. “And I came to get your new address, so we may have a correspondence.”
Juliana took a deep breath. “I do not wish to have a correspondence with you. I wish to leave.”
“What do you mean? What... what have I done?”
Oh why, oh why would the train not come? “You’ve done nothing, Avery. I... I just have to leave.”
“But why not write? We have been friends. If I have done anything to offend you, I implore you to tell me.”
“You’ve done nothing wrong.” Juliana swallowed down a lump in her throat. “You... you have been a good friend and I have enjoyed knowing you. But I must leave this place. I... I must leave it and forsake it completely. I cannot write you.”
“But why?” Avery asked. “I implore you to tell me. Do not think you would break my heart if you told me. To withhold the reason would be the greater sin.”
Oh curse the train. Curse its lateness. “I simply must. It is something I must do.”
“But why? I do not understand.”
Juliana turned to Avery. She did not mark the look of confusion on his face. Her emotions had caught her up. “If you truly thought yourself my friend. You would allow me to depart as I wish. You would not bother me with all this, but you would let me leave.”
A hurt look spread over Avery’s face. Mixed in with that look was one of creeping realization. Juliana saw that. She opened her mouth to pull back her words. But Avery spoke first.
“If you thought yourself my friend, you would give an explanation.” He did not implore with his words. Their tone had changed. Now they were firm, as though a fact had become apparent to him.
Juliana wanted to say something. But Avery turned and walked away. She was rooted to the spot, transfixed on him, could do nothing but watch him go. He held his head high and put his hands in his pockets. But he seemed a bit rigid as he faded away into the fog.
More footsteps sounded. Juliana turned towards them. It was the ticket vendor. He rushed up, holding a piece of paper in his hand.
“Madam,” he said as he came to a stop before her, “The nine o’clock train was unable to leave the station. A tree fell over the tracks. It will not be cleared until tomorrow. I just got the wire.”
Juliana dropped her handbag, buried her face in her hands, and cried bitterly.
