by Missy Bell

Created on: December 16, 2010

He sat down beside her on the train.  It wasn't because she was pretty or interesting, or even because she was wearing shoes that reminded him of his dead wife.  It was because all of the other seats were taken. 

"Nice suitcase."  She said, sarcastic.

He glanced down at the crackled brown alligator skin monstrosity he'd been carrying for the past three days and back at her curious green eyes.

"You have a problem with my suitcase?"

"No problem.  Just noticing.  Not many people carry cases like that anymore."

"No.  They don't.  This was my father's.  I like it because it's spacious."

"Got lots of things to keep in there?"

He tapped the side of the case with his shoe and nodded,  "Yes."

She stared out of the window and ran her tongue along the back of her teeth while he rummaged through a day-old newspaper and pretended to read it.  She crossed and uncrossed her nylon encased thighs several times - cleaned her teeth with her tongue - crossed and uncrossed...

"Where are you headed?"  He asked, not looking up from the paper.

"Boston."  She replied. 

"What's in Boston?"  He glanced side-long, appreciated her supple body.  Glanced down her leg...  looked away.  Those damn shoes...

"My boyfriend.  He lives in Boston."

"Ah."  He feigned disinterest.

"Interesting paper?"  Caught.

"No.  Not really.  It's yesterday's."

"Yeah, I noticed." 

"Would you help me with my suitcase?  It's heavy."  She moved to stand, uncertain, but his eyes were soothing, and there was empty space on the luggage rack. 

"Sure."  She said - and they shoved the monstrosity onto the rack together... and sat down.

He rummaged through the paper. 

"Shit!"  She said.

"What is it?"

"Something dripping on me - I...oh...god..."  She reached up to feel it.  Something leaking from the luggage rack...

"What is it?"

She moved her hand from the top of her head to see what the substance could be: red, sticky - there could be no mistake.

She stared at him, eyes roving from one side of his face to the next...

"Oh," he said, very quietly, "I see you've found my wife."

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