Sighting

On Tues (28 Nov) I boarded the 15.47 Avanti West Coast train from Birmingham New Street to Euston. I asked a man in Coach G if I could sit in the seat opposite him. He said of course, and smiled, and as soon as he did…🫶

We didn’t speak much, just a few glances here and there. At one point he said he was going to the food cart, did I want anything? I said no, I waited for him to come back. Still we didn’t speak. The train arrived at Euston – a quick journey, quickest of my life.

As I left I said “have a good evening”. I walked away. I regretted it. But as I reached the tube, I realised I had left my glasses. I ran back as fast as I could.

There was nobody on the platform. Nobody on the train. Now it was dark. Quiet. No sign of my glasses…

And then, there he was, Train Man, waiting at the end of the platform, holding my glasses. We walked briefly through Euston station, where a choir was singing Christmas songs.

I will never understand why I told him I was meeting someone (I wasn’t). He walked away. And now I’m here, because I’ve done nothing but think of this man, who was so lovely. I didn’t even get his name.

A drink