Platform 4

Rushing out of the door and slamming it hard enough to kick out some of the dust, Maxine jabbed the button for the lift and impatiently checked her watch, counting to her impending doom. Her hate for the lift festered, which, out of any day, chose to ruin today. Today, her first interview for her first job, and she was already going to leave a bad impression.

It stopped at every floor before it finally arrived at hers, announcing its arrival with the squeak of a hinge.

She sprinted in and haphazardly fixed her hair with the help of the deteriorating, grey-stained mirror in the lift. Maxine prepared herself to launch towards the taxi, which was going to leave in 30 seconds.

The world might as well be on fire right now.

As the lift’s metallic doors slid open slowly, Maxine forcefully pushed herself out, scraping her thighs and leaving a terrible ache.

As she ran out of the building, breathless and heart pounding, she was greeted by the departing taxi, its smoke rushing out to mock her. Wearing a defeated and shocked expression, she slumped to the floor, every part of her crying for a rest. She caught her breath as uncontrollable, mascara-smudged black tears rolled down her cheek.

Great. Now her makeup was ruined too.

The sun shone brightly, and the wind carried the sweet smell of flowers, but nothing could free her heart from the layers of sadness it was trapped under.

Her interview was in ten minutes, and there was no way she could make it unless she caught the…train. The same train that left a scar on her heart.

Unhealable and always burning.

How could she ever get on that train? How could she ever risk reliving her traumatic memories?

She hurriedly rechecked her watch, its hands spinning like a tornado, and realised that the train was the only thing that could lift her out of this mess.

After hesitantly deciding to run, Maxine found herself at the station. Her heart shattered once more as the sound of children running and the screeching of trains plunged into her ear, taking her back to the last time she was standing on this platform at the station.

Platform 4.

The platform that ruined her life.