The last train

**The Last Train**

Lena stood on the platform, her breath clouding in the frigid night air. The station was eerily quiet, except for the occasional flutter of a newspaper caught in the wind. She glanced at the clock hanging above her: 11:43 PM. The last train was due any moment, yet the station felt deserted, as if she were the only person left in the world.

She pulled her coat tighter, trying to ward off the chill that had settled deep in her bones. Lena had spent the entire day searching the city for something—she wasn’t even sure what. She only knew she had to leave. The city felt like a labyrinth of dead ends, where every street led her back to memories she wanted to forget.

11:45 PM. The tracks began to hum, a low vibration that sent ripples through the puddles left by the evening rain. The train’s headlights pierced the darkness, cutting through the mist that clung to the rails. Lena stepped closer to the edge of the platform, clutching the small suitcase that held all she had left.

The train screeched to a halt, its doors hissing open. Lena hesitated. There was no one else on the platform, no one to urge her forward or hold her back. She had always imagined that leaving would be dramatic, a final tearful goodbye. Instead, it was quiet, almost mundane.

She boarded the train, the doors sliding shut behind her with a finality that made her heart skip a beat. The carriage was dimly lit, the overhead lights flickering intermittently. She found an empty seat by the window and sank into it, placing her suitcase on the floor beside her.

As the train began to move, Lena stared out the window, watching the city blur into streaks of light and shadow. She felt a pang of guilt for leaving so abruptly, but she knew she had no choice. Staying would have meant drowning in a sea of regrets and broken promises.

The train sped through the outskirts of the city, the buildings giving way to open fields and dense forests. The further they went, the darker it became, until the only light came from the train itself, casting fleeting glows on the trees as they rushed past.

Lena’s mind wandered, replaying the events that had led her to this moment. She had lost so much—her job, her home, her friends. But it was the loss of Tom that hurt the most. They had planned a future together, dreamed of escaping the city and starting anew. But when the accident happened, everything changed. Tom was gone, and with him, all the dreams they had shared.

A tear slid down Lena’s cheek, and she quickly wiped it away. This journey was supposed to be her fresh start, a way to leave behind the pain and forge a new path. But as the train rattled on, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was running away, not moving forward.

She glanced around the carriage. It was almost empty, save for a few shadowy figures seated at the far end. They didn’t seem to notice her, their faces hidden in the gloom. Lena felt a shiver of unease. Something about this train, this journey, felt wrong.

The train slowed as they approached a small, unmarked station. The doors opened, but no one got on or off. Lena peered out the window, but all she could see was darkness beyond the faint glow of the platform lights. The train lingered for a moment, then continued on its way.

Lena’s unease grew with each passing minute. The other passengers remained still, as if frozen in place. She looked down at her suitcase, her knuckles white from gripping the handle. She needed to get off this train, but where would she go?

The train began to slow again, this time with a sense of purpose. Lena stood, clutching her suitcase to her chest. She didn’t know what awaited her, but anything was better than the suffocating dread she felt on this train.

As the train pulled into the next station, Lena made her decision. The doors opened, and she stepped off onto the platform. The air was crisp and fresh, a stark contrast to the stale atmosphere inside the train.

Lena didn’t look back as the train pulled away, its lights disappearing into the night. She was alone, but for the first time in a long while, she felt free.