A NeverEnding Story...

Saying Goodbye (again)

"I hope we make it..." Flan gasped as she half-ran to catch up with D's long effortless strides. She checked her watch for the tenth time and hoped fervently that they had not missed the hourly train. The tunnel leading to the Central station seemed never-ending. People were rushing alongside the anxious couple, hurrying them along. A Chinese man was squatting by the side, a piece of cloth spread out in front of him. Flan cast a quick glance over his products and saw that they were hand-painted cards with illegible Chinese characters; unfortunately, she really could not stop. No one else did either.

Further up, an Aboriginal man was blowing into a musical instrument - it wasn't shiny and polished like those sold in souvenir shops; this one was old and dusty and the prints were faded. His prodigy, a young Japanese youth, was holding a similar instrument and they were having a blast - swept away into a world of their own. Flan didn't want to dampen their high spirits but it was hardly any wonder that no one showed appreciation towards their art - it sounded like elephants growling, if elephants growl at all.

Almost there. Without a word, almost as if they could read each other's minds, Flan joined the queue for the tickets while D headed straight to the monitors to check the train schedules. From a distance, Flan saw him stick two fingers into the air. She sighed with relief - it was five to 2. They could still make it. "Two tickets to the International Airport please....One return and one single," she paid for the tickets just as D reached her side - "1 more minute!" Flan's heart skipped a beat - What! He meant two minutes, not 2pm! They sped to the gates, ran up the stairs to platform 23 and jumped into the cabin just before the doors slid shut.

Their hearts still thumping from their sprint, they collapsed onto the navy blue seats on the upper deck, giggling. D held her hand tightly as the train rumbled along; his large warm hand engulfed her small cold ones. Swallowing the familiar lump in her throat, she turned her face away from him, hoping that he had not seen the tears glistening in her eyes. He too turned his face away and hoped that she had not seen his eyes. At least, they had another 2 hours together - it was better than nothing.

posted by Flaneur @ 8:17 AM