Chapter one- 2013- Naomi- Part One
Nipping at noses, the cold icy wind swept through the streets, down through the drains, into the underground. Scarfs wrapped themselves around everyone's necks, grey ones, black ones, brown ones of all shapes and patterns tucked under coats buttoned up to keep this breeze from chilling bones. Despite this, the world was a buzz with noise and movement. Strings lit up the streets, a blaze with color. Sweet music surrounded everything, wrapping it with the invincible joy of the time.
People spilled into tight huddles on the platforms, luggage piled clumsily in all the gaps. Friends and family's gathered waiting to go somewhere, do something, create special memories, paused only by the train. Tall walls surrounded them, any other time they would have seemed trap like, but not today. Tinsel trees and baubles decorating them created a barrier, like nothing could wreck this happiness.
The steps leading down, sat the homeless, the ill. Thick tattered coats wrapped tightly preciously around them hats sitting by their feet. Giving and love, the theme of the festivities, lead these hats to be flowing with coins from anyone who could spare a coin. Of course not everyone could, then there were those who could but their purses were too buried in their bags.
Tucked away from all this, at the furthest end of the station, a couple stands wrapped in each others embrace. The dark long hair of the young lady whipped around but they stood, oblivious. Just like that, the next train passed and the one after. None taking them to the right place. Around the pair, the crowds changed, constantly thinning and thickening at the blink of the eye. Eventually the time came and they unwrapped themselves.
They must have been between 16 to 18, both tall, thin. The darkness of her hair contrasted the bright blond of his, her pale complexion turned almost ghostly against his tan. But both glowing in the light of each others smiles. Train doors open, they stick together until the last moment, waiting for the flow of footsteps to slow, treasuring every last moment. Suddenly its over and they part with a swift kiss, the dark hair disappears into the tin tube.
Filled up seats tired her eyes as she realized the long journey would have to be, in the main part, a standing one. No worries, at least it won't be too boring. In goes the headphones and out goes reality. Grouchy London workers roll their eyes at the stereotypical situation of her tight black jeans, leather jacket and loud blaring music. Darkness wraps around the tracks as the train ambles further and further into the wide country, eventually breaking out onto the surface after the deep maze of tunnels. The extravagant stations slowly changed to small platforms, more and more pouring off the train, less joining. Eventually, long after the feeling in her leg had left her, a seat was left free and she practically leaped into it.
Long after she had fallen asleep the final stop came and she woke with a start looking around at the empty carriage, checking her bags in case of theft. Satisfied, she got up and wandered alone out of the train, alone through the gates and alone through the streets of her little Stirlingshire village. The hill leading to her parents farm house leaving her breathless and tired, yet she still stopped to appreciate the beauty surrounding her, the hills of deep black against the navy sky, the forests. All this blemished only by the huge steel and concrete door dug in to the cliffs of the nearby mountain, things like this had been popping up everywhere since 2012's 'fright night'. God save them if they had to use it. She shook her head clear of these thoughts, sighed and walked slowly inside.
"NAOMI! Thank jeese your home! I was so worried, I know, I know I shouldn't have been, but I can't help it. What if the alarm had gone of and we were separated forever, not worth thinking about. Hows Stefan? Still fit? Still working at the bank? You have so much to tell me, come into the kitchen, I'll put a brew on.'
Naomi flinched at the embrace, embarrassed though there was no one there to see. Then followed reluctantly into the polished silver room.
"I'm old enough to fend for myself mom and it didn't go off now did it? I'm fine stop worrying."
The words tumbled out, mumbled, hiding her annoyance at having to endure human interaction when she just wanted to be alone.
'I know darling, but I can't exactly just decide to not care.'
She sighed and picked up the kettle.
'I suppose you had better go sort yourself out after your journey. I made your bed, but you might want a shower. There are clean PJ's in the airing cupboard.'
'Thanks'
Upstairs the red and white walls of her room awaited her, strangely clean of pictures or anything that may have suggested a person lived here. Of course there was a bed, not slept in for many months and a wardrobe, empty of clothes. There was a lot of work needed to be done. Not tonight though, tonight she would fall asleep and dream of her love in the country so south of her. Dream of the big city lights.
PRx
People spilled into tight huddles on the platforms, luggage piled clumsily in all the gaps. Friends and family's gathered waiting to go somewhere, do something, create special memories, paused only by the train. Tall walls surrounded them, any other time they would have seemed trap like, but not today. Tinsel trees and baubles decorating them created a barrier, like nothing could wreck this happiness.
The steps leading down, sat the homeless, the ill. Thick tattered coats wrapped tightly preciously around them hats sitting by their feet. Giving and love, the theme of the festivities, lead these hats to be flowing with coins from anyone who could spare a coin. Of course not everyone could, then there were those who could but their purses were too buried in their bags.
Tucked away from all this, at the furthest end of the station, a couple stands wrapped in each others embrace. The dark long hair of the young lady whipped around but they stood, oblivious. Just like that, the next train passed and the one after. None taking them to the right place. Around the pair, the crowds changed, constantly thinning and thickening at the blink of the eye. Eventually the time came and they unwrapped themselves.
They must have been between 16 to 18, both tall, thin. The darkness of her hair contrasted the bright blond of his, her pale complexion turned almost ghostly against his tan. But both glowing in the light of each others smiles. Train doors open, they stick together until the last moment, waiting for the flow of footsteps to slow, treasuring every last moment. Suddenly its over and they part with a swift kiss, the dark hair disappears into the tin tube.
Filled up seats tired her eyes as she realized the long journey would have to be, in the main part, a standing one. No worries, at least it won't be too boring. In goes the headphones and out goes reality. Grouchy London workers roll their eyes at the stereotypical situation of her tight black jeans, leather jacket and loud blaring music. Darkness wraps around the tracks as the train ambles further and further into the wide country, eventually breaking out onto the surface after the deep maze of tunnels. The extravagant stations slowly changed to small platforms, more and more pouring off the train, less joining. Eventually, long after the feeling in her leg had left her, a seat was left free and she practically leaped into it.
Long after she had fallen asleep the final stop came and she woke with a start looking around at the empty carriage, checking her bags in case of theft. Satisfied, she got up and wandered alone out of the train, alone through the gates and alone through the streets of her little Stirlingshire village. The hill leading to her parents farm house leaving her breathless and tired, yet she still stopped to appreciate the beauty surrounding her, the hills of deep black against the navy sky, the forests. All this blemished only by the huge steel and concrete door dug in to the cliffs of the nearby mountain, things like this had been popping up everywhere since 2012's 'fright night'. God save them if they had to use it. She shook her head clear of these thoughts, sighed and walked slowly inside.
"NAOMI! Thank jeese your home! I was so worried, I know, I know I shouldn't have been, but I can't help it. What if the alarm had gone of and we were separated forever, not worth thinking about. Hows Stefan? Still fit? Still working at the bank? You have so much to tell me, come into the kitchen, I'll put a brew on.'
Naomi flinched at the embrace, embarrassed though there was no one there to see. Then followed reluctantly into the polished silver room.
"I'm old enough to fend for myself mom and it didn't go off now did it? I'm fine stop worrying."
The words tumbled out, mumbled, hiding her annoyance at having to endure human interaction when she just wanted to be alone.
'I know darling, but I can't exactly just decide to not care.'
She sighed and picked up the kettle.
'I suppose you had better go sort yourself out after your journey. I made your bed, but you might want a shower. There are clean PJ's in the airing cupboard.'
'Thanks'
Upstairs the red and white walls of her room awaited her, strangely clean of pictures or anything that may have suggested a person lived here. Of course there was a bed, not slept in for many months and a wardrobe, empty of clothes. There was a lot of work needed to be done. Not tonight though, tonight she would fall asleep and dream of her love in the country so south of her. Dream of the big city lights.
PRx
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