A quote: “The past is never dead. It’s not even past. All of us labor in webs spun long before we were born, webs of heredity and environment, of desire and consequence, of history and eternity.” ~~ William Faulkner
I’ll start with a story ….
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“Please don’t worry. I’ll be back!”
He held her voice in his head and heart, a loop of last words as she boarded the train.
It was just university. There’d be holidays to come running home. It’s our future, she assured him. I’m working for that.
“I’ll be back.” Countless mornings he remembered it. Even as word trickled back that all wasn’t well in the city. Even as the nets went down and letters never arrived and the only light at night was just over the horizon, strange and pulsing.
One last train. She stepped off “I’m back”.
Not really.
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Now, it’s your turn.
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featured image, cropped, by Benjamin Balazs, Pixabay CC0 license
Bobby Ahr says: Ramblin’ Man
Coming or going? Into the mist or out of the mist?
A wise old hobo acquaintance of his once said, “When you hit town, always tell the fellows you are on your way somewhere; else you’ll be branded a drifter.”
Well, now odd job business concluded, he had a little money to spend. Money in his pocket made him uncomfortable. To ride the train. Inside. On a seat. In style. With hot cocoa. And maybe cake.
The next train. Any train. And he’ll be on his way somewhere.
Then his inner nature took over, and he started walking.
nicole says: It was a gloomy morning, but Rob didn’t mind.. He walked to the train station to get on the first train that came to the station.. It didn’t matter which one.. He was headed anywhere but where he’d been all his life.. He was determined to be a STAR & to see if the grass was greener elsewhere, The train came in and he boarded with just the clothes on his back and a few bucks in his pocket…They were on the move,, He paid his fare for a one way ticket and nestled in his seat and dreamed about where he was going. He had no idea.. He’d walked quite a bit and was tired and while day dreaming, he fell asleep.. When he woke, he heard, “Last Stop”.. He got off the train and then saw the sign, Welcome to Las Vegas.. Now he knew what he would do.. He would become a headliner at one of the many Casino’s as a comedian…. Before going to see the Manager of the Casino, he put a single quarter in the slot machine, and won a Million Dollars.. Now, isn’t that Funny he thought..
I am the fog. In a minute, I will walk into the crowded train station with the explosives attached to my belt and the detonator in my jacket pocket. Many passengers will die, and I will have a glorious death and become a martyr. Someone is walking toward me. It is Aya my wife. What in the world is she doing here? She yells, “Youssef, you forgot to leave me any money.” I instinctively reach into my jacket pocket. Flash! I am the fog.
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