This post is in response to last week's Snapshot Prompt. Click on over to read more work inspired by the same photo and words. Or even (gasp) submit your own.
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Fading Tracks
Roger flickered into sight next to the overgrown rails. He frowned down at them a moment, kicking at the wild vegetable greens. His foot went right through.These tracks used to run straight into the city, carrying folk from all over to come try their luck under 24 hour lights. Now the living just forgot them, forgot the importance of them, lost in their need for single-passenger cars, clogging up the highways and filling the air with that smoke--
"Good morning."
Roger's frown melted away as he turned to his fellow ghost.
"Well, hello there, Miss. Going somewhere special today?"
"I'm hoping," she said with a toothy smile. The girl had obviously been around a while, dressed in petticoats and layers of muslin, holding a little purse in a white-gloved hand.
"Did it take you a while to get here?" Roger asked politely. The woman's eyes widened.
"Oh, yes. I was tied pretty tightly to my place of death. Childbirth, you know," she whispered. Roger nodded solemnly before pulling out his silver pocket watch.
"Well, my dear, you won't have to wait much longer. The train is due in three minutes precisely."
"Oh, I'm so excited. Where does the train go, precisely? I'm not entirely sure ... " Her voice faded, her hands clutching her purse. Roger sent her a reassuring smile.
"Why, nearly anywhere in the Cosmos you would like to go." Her smile lit the world in that moment.
The wind carried a heavy note followed by a whistling breeze. Roger signaled the passenger to wait a moment. The breeze kicked up dirt and ruffled the vegetables but didn't do anything to the two figures standing by as the iridescent train materialized before them.
The lady rushed up to the ladder, cheerily greeting the conductor who opened the door for her. She paused on the landing and looked down.
"Are you coming, sir?" Roger hesitated, sharing a glance with the conductor before he answered.
"Not today, Ma'am. Have a nice trip, now."
She didn't waste another moment, slipping onto the train and out of sight.
"You sure, Roger?" the conductor asked. "It's been a long time."
"One day," Roger challenged. "One day they'll remember the tracks. They'll need me, then." The conductor set his lips and nodded goodbye. The train engine pushed the air up again as it disappeared.
Roger sighed and shook his head, looking down at his pocket watch before tucking it away and fading out of sight.
He's more tied to the place than she was. Very bittersweet.
ReplyDeleteAh, I didn't think of it that way. I love it when there's more to my stories than I know. Thanks, Diane.
DeleteNicely imagined.
ReplyDeleteThank you. :)
DeleteI loved this, Carrie! Specifically the curious ending: where is the train going? Who will need Roger? What's been a long time? I just want to keep reading. :) Also, I love the fading in and out you created; we get a live scene portrayed through ghosts... including the train! It's wonderfully creative.
ReplyDeleteI've noticed in all the stories for this photo there is an element of dark loss/past life. It's interesting to see.
I've finally been able to read the other stories and I agree with you. It was a hard week for me to comment on, everything was so emotional (the more sad emotions, the longer processing time for me).
DeleteThanks for commenting on the fading imagery. I tried to take the time to really show it as I saw it. That was what I was afraid put me over the word count. :-)
I don't know how I missed your entry to this one, Carrie. Did you sneak it in last minute?
ReplyDeleteIt feels like a metaphor for unrequited love. Someone of familiar disposition—soul, if you will—comes along but the timing is just wrong or the destination uncompromisable... it's beautiful in its sorrowful truth.
Don't let me miss another please! Another entry, not another train. ;) I'm used to missing those.
~Christopher
Haha. :-) I hate missing trains. Luckily, we only have the cargo kind where I live.
DeleteThanks for the comments on the story. I couldn't get Roger out of my head once I thought of him. He's determined to hold on at such a cost - one I see more and more through everyone's great comments.
I usually post my subs on Tuesday's. Things have been a little crazy these last few months, so I've been a bit off, but I participate whenever I can. Though I'm late to the Linky, I'm almost always in the prompt post's submission list so you can catch them there.