Still Waters - Vol. IV, Issue 1

Page 8

The Skeleton of Home by Mary Boshar THE TRAIN RUMBLED as it cruised

looking out the window. She finished her

along the tracks. The thundering

book, already the second one this week.

intensified as the train picked up speed,

After a while, the fields became houses.

leaving the small ramshackle station

Around her, people slept with their heads

behind. She sat alone, two cars from the

tilted against the window. The passengers

front. The train was just empty enough for

that were awake listened to music through

her to have a seat to herself, which she was

headphones or stared at their phones or

grateful for. She sat on the right side in the

laptops. The car rocked back and forth,

seat closest to the window and watched as

fighting the forceful wind. Now the houses

untouched fields and modest homes

were so close together she could barely

passed by. Whenever she traveled she

distinguish one from the next.

took the window seat. She was an

As the train slowed, she could

observer. She liked being able to sit still

see the separation between houses and

while time passed around her, the only

factories that before was an

separation a glass pane. She never

indistinguishable blur of color on the dull

bothered to sleep while she was traveling

landscape. Braking to approach the

because she felt like there was too much of

station, the train screeched, steel scraping

the world that she was missing out on.

against steel. Before the train had even

But the landscape flashing

come to a complete stop, people were on

outside her window was not enough to

their feet, tucking belongings into

distract her. It had been years since she

backpacks and reaching for suitcases

had been home--ten, maybe eleven since

below their seats and above their heads.

the last time. She had reconciled with her

She dropped her book into her

family but her busy lifestyle had gotten in

backpack that was stuffed with clothing

the way of her visiting. As thoughts about

and toiletries. She always traveled light, it

her family and childhood took over, she

just made it easier. She was one of the last

became overwhelmed by the idea of

people off the train. She stood at her seat,

reconnecting.

letting passengers behind her exit first.

She spent the last six hours of the ride alternating between reading and

Everyone was in a rush and she did not mind waiting.

Fiction 5


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