PLATFORM ANGEL by Veronica Georgina (1st Place, Short July26)

It was six forty-two. The sun was breaking over the horizon, gently illuminating everything in its touch. Nothing was different that morning. At least the sickness had passed, it made it a little easier to forget. On the platform opposite she was there as usual: the serene looking woman with the long red hair, the sun stroking it and highlighting every curl that cascaded over her shoulders. This morning, for the first time, we made eye contact, and I noticed her emerald green eyes. She smiled at me. Instinctively my hands cradled my stomach.

Six forty-four. My usual train would soon be here. The train that would usually take me to ‘that place’. Only this morning it wouldn’t. I wouldn’t feel the piercing eyes or hear the jeering comments, “loose Lucy”. There would be silence. I would finally be at peace.

Down the tracks I heard the rumble of the six forty-five arriving on time. My heart was pounding, almost in time with every thunderous echo that came from the approaching train. I wondered if anyone could see it, it felt like it was trying to break free, just like me. Screeching to a halt, the doors opened, everyone looked at me in anticipation. “Are you getting on love?” Not today. I shook my head in the way a child might after being asked if they had done something naughty. The train I needed today would be along next. Only it wouldn’t be stopping and I wouldn’t be getting on.

Six months earlier, my life changed. I was just a normal receptionist. I’d never been outgoing; even as a child I never had any friends, not true friends anyway. The new guy was Josh. His strawberry-blonde hair neatly framed his light complexion and cheekbones. All eyes were on him, but his were only on me, and for once I loved the attention.

Everything happened so fast. I couldn’t keep up, my little world was spinning in the clouds at a hundred miles an hour, until everything came crashing down. It was only three months later, I couldn’t hide it from anyone, ignored and ghosted by him, left completely alone, left to ridicule and shame.

Across the platform, the woman was gone. Strange, no train had arrived on that side.

Six fifty. It was time. I could see the train approaching in the distance. It was moving so quickly, no time to think. I stepped out and opened my arms like an eagle swooping on its prey. I took one last deep resounding breath.

Then I felt arms wrapped around me, pulling me back, and a feeling of such warmth that could only come from a mother swaddling her newborn baby. A feeling of complete contentment and love engulfed me in a way that I had never felt or even known existed. Then, everything stopped and there was complete silence.

Then crying. A baby’s crying, growing louder. Where was I? What had happened? A nurse noticed that I had stirred and was in distress and came to my bedside. As she lifted the tiny helpless baby out of the crib next to me and placed her in my arms, that familiar warm feeling engulfed me again. I looked down and stroked her fine red hair. Her eyes opened and her beautiful emerald eyes gazed back at me.

I knew then that everything would be okay, I had everything I needed, and for the first time, I was loved.

“Does baby have a name yet?” the nurse asked me gently. I nodded.

“She does,” I replied. “Angel.”