Page 104 - Musings 2022

something new to him entirely, but it was strong. His mind was split, one part of him wanting

to see her, and the other part, afraid of what that would lead to.
Soon he found himself under the tree. It was like his body had moved on its own, maybe it was

out of habit, more likely his body wanting to repeat one of his old habits. But now he was
sitting in the shade of that beautiful tree. His mind was still in anguish, but he felt calmer,

sitting under the tree. He looked around, he realised just how much the town had changed, yet

this tree had remained. It was nice, and felt homely. He thought of the many memories he had
with this tree, it felt like they were all coming back to him. He sat there reminiscing, as the sky

turned grey and rain started pouring.
The many games of hide and seek he had played - The time he’d hurt himself when he fell from

a branch of the tree and scarred his right knee - The times he’d sit under the tree reading,

because it was warm there - The time he met her for the first time, when she asked him what
book he was reading - The time he spent reading out a book to her, as she sat beside him - The

time he fell asleep in her lap under the tree...
He woke up suddenly. He realised that he had fallen asleep. The rain had died down and

thankfully, the tree had kept him dry. He felt somewhat refreshed, but was cold. The tree wasn’t
as warm as he remembered. He thought about everything in the town, and how foreign it had

become to him and he felt sorry for himself, and disgust. He wanted to run away from there, it

was no longer where he belonged, it was no longer the little world where he lived happily with
her. He ran. He found himself at her door again. He knew what he had to do. It was what he

had come here for. He knocked.

-

As the 6pm train prepared to leave the station, the station master, once again, saw the man he

had seen that morning. He was sitting in the train, his head resting on the glass window, gazing
at the empty station. He did not seem to be in a hurry, like in the morning.

He felt empty and cold. He missed her, but she was long gone.

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