Story

For the final task of the unit of L/L Writing class we had to write a short story. This story had to be, in a way, connected to the poem ''Father Returning Home'', by Dilip Chitre.

What happened, Claire Smith?

There I was walking through the crowded, cold and noisy Broadway Street, walking to Pennsylvania Station. I was going to Dover to meet my family for Thanksgiving. I wasn’t very excited about my trip, but I hadn’t seen my family for ages.
Once in the station I bought my ticket and waited at the platform. I observed everything around me but all I saw was nothing. Then it arrived, I entered, again nobody. I guess after the guard came for my ticket I fell asleep for at least fifteen minutes since we were already in New Jersey.
Now, there was a lady, but not just some ordinary lady, it was Claire Smith, the star of my favourite show when I was a kid. She wasn’t famous anymore but I was still her fan. I didn’t want her to be scared so I tried not to look at her so much but she was staring at me. Now I was scared.
I crossed the empty corridor so I could talk to her, I mean, after all, I was her fan.
I introduced myself, but before I could say anything more, I think she felt comfortable with my company, and started telling me a story. She told me she was escaping from her husband and changing her name. I was going to tell her how sorry I was for everything but she never gave me the opportunity.

We were arriving at Hoboken, but before the train stopped she had jumped. Her white coat and pale skin camouflaged with the snow. That was the last time me or anyone on Earth saw her.