Running for a train

Grabbing my favourite blue hoodie and jacket, I ran down the stairs and out of the house.  I can’t be late, not enough time and too much to do. Running to catch the train was a daily event and today was no exception. Needing to be at London Victoria by 9.30, I really should have got up earlier, but my lazy self wouldn’t allow that.

As a Journalist I spend most of my day racing around places before finishing the day in the newsroom. Today I had to meet with old Mrs Franks and her beloved St Bernard, William.  Being sent to London for the interview was not something I appreciated but writing is my job, and I am sent to where the stories are.

Reaching the station, I got my ticket and then stood panting on the platform. As the train pulled in, I felt relief that I hadn’t missed it.  Finding a seat, we were soon moving, and I started to watch the people around me.  The young couple holding hands across from me, the mum with a baby and the thin man with a walking stick.  The lad with shorts and the girl with a big pink bow in her head.  I couldn’t help but think she looked ridiculous. I often wondered what news stories were around me if I got into more conversations with people.  Instead, I often say nothing, but pink bow girl might be more interesting than Mrs Franks and her big sloppy dog.

Watching the world

As the train started to gather momentum, I watched the world race by. Then realising that everyone was unnecessarily quiet I felt uneasy.   The carriage was silent. I looked around, we were all here, but something wasn’t right, were we all feeling it? As the trees outside vanished and the world turned white, I knew something had happened.  The gasps around the carriage told me that it was not only me seeing this.  As the train slowed down, I knew the driver was also struggling with this phenomenon. The day had been sunny, now we were driving through thick heavy snow.  Were we still heading to London?

Hearing the cries from someone further down the train I knew this wasn’t normal. Where were we? Feeling the train slowing and then the screech of the brakes, we were stopping, why? As the driver announced that he had been told to stop, he stammered and asked for people to not get off.  Looking at my watch, the time was now 9.00, seeing the date, my head started to race.  Turning to the man next to me I asked,

“What date does your watch or phone say?”  He looked at me confused and then looked,

“Oh my god, its 2034, how is it 2034?”

I knew that I was now not meeting a St Bernard, what was today? And how do we get back to 2024?

2034

As everyone started to find out the current year, the ripple of hysteria filled the train.  This was a good news story if we ever get home. Now walking up the train I wondered what had caused this. Was there someone on the train that had done something? This was all very weird.  Seeing a small child approach me I couldn’t help but smile.  Not prepared for what happened next, I jumped.

“Jessica Freelley?”

“Yes?”

“My dad knows you and err my mum.”

“Who is your dad?”

As she took my hand, she led me to a man sat alone.  He looked up at smiled, looking relieved. What was this?

Chris

We were on a train in the middle of no where and it was snowing.  Two weeks ago, my partner, Chris of six months had left me.  He just stopped phoning and answering my messages, I had thought it was me again, driving away the good guys.  Now I was sat on a train in 2034 and he was sat right here with a small girl.

“Jess, I didn’t think I would see you again, this is all a bit mad, you won’t believe me.”

“Try me, we are sat in 2034, I am meant to be in London seeing a lady about a dog.”

“Two weeks ago, I left your house and I think I fell into some sort of void.  When I woke, I found Trudie here sitting with me. She told me that she has seen the past and the future and she knows that you die today.  If you died, then she would cease to exist”.

“What is happening? What is all this?”

“Back in 2024 if you had met with the St Bernard, you were destined to be murdered by Mrs Franks son.  If you had been murdered, then we would never get married, and Trudie would not exist.  Married? You and me married? I hardly know you.”

“I think murdered is what you should be more shocked about and then the snow and the fact we are in 2034.  Who do you think made all this happen?”

“But how? If I’m supposed to die today then how did Trudie happen, to then come back and save me?”

Michael

Hearing a man’s voice behind me, I was even more stunned by his news.

“I am the Angel Michael, We have been here before many times, and this time all three of you are still alive.”

“Why 2034 and why the snow?”

“I needed to stop the train, and 2034 because its ten years from 2024 and Trudie is here”.

“And why am I important? Why save me?”

Trudie

“Without you there is no Trudie, and she is crucial to the future.”

“So, Chris fell into a void? Why today? Why here and now? Couldn’t you have told me two weeks ago what you know now”. As Trudie interrupted, I could hear that though small she was clever.

“I need to be born and you and daddy need to marry, you must not go to London.”

“Jessica, in your own timeline Trudie is not born because you die.  We need Trudie in the future.”

“Why?”

“Jessica, I can’t say. Anything I tell you could influence the timeline   We have spoken with Chris, and he was told to stay away, now the two of you just need to talk.  Tell your editor you are not meeting the lady with the St Bernard, the future is too important.”

“But we are still in 2034, where is Trudie?”

Chris took my hand, “Don’t be scared, I found all this hard to believe as well, but Jessica, I do really like you.  I hated staying away and following Michael’s plan.”

“Why here? And why now? Why on a train to London?”

The future

“Jessica more important is you are still here, and you are not and never meeting Mrs Franks. I will see to the son as he is dangerous.  You just need to talk with Chris and live your lives, the future will then write itself.  I have seen it as it should be, we need you in it”.

Looking at Chris I could see that he believed in all this.  As I felt the train move, I realised that Trudie and Michael were no longer here. The day had turned sunny again with no signs of snow and the people around me were talking as if nothing had happened.  Feeling my phone vibrate I now found messages and voicemail.  I hadn’t arrived in London and Stanley Franks was demanding to know why I had let his mum down.  Grumbling, I wondered what really was important about this dog, I guess I will never know.

Phoning the newsroom, I advised that the train had broken down and nobody was to visit Mrs Franks.  I knew it was best to be cautious and trust Michael, who ever he was, Angel or time fabricator?

Rumours

A week later I wrote a piece for our magazine about the snow train, time travel and angels.  Then the rumours started around the newsroom.  Stanley Franks had been arrested for murder, why had I really not gone to meet them? Was there any truth to my story?  I was telling no one, they were unlikely to believe me anyway.

Two months later I finally agreed for Chris to move in.  If Michael was telling the truth, then this was meant to be.  Though I couldn’t help but wonder what would happen to my daughter?  and why is she so important? We will just have to live our lives and find out then.

 

Written for Writers Unite – Write the story

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