Fields of green

At 9.03 am, the train started moving slowly. Eilidh looked through the window and saw passing by the old houses on the outskirts of the town. She opened the bag, took an enciclopedic-size pocket book and left it on the table in front of her whilst she turned her sight towards the landscape smoothly shifting at the other side of the glass. They were now passing through some farmlands and spread, as if wanting to not be noticed, some farms breaking the hegemony of the ridiculously green fields. Likewise, sprinkled like the first winter snow, sheep flocks were grazing totally unaware of what was going on around them.

She took the book again and opened it at the page with the bookmark. She took it with both hands and looked at it for a moment. It was the train ticket from the last time she visited him. She smiled and her sight got lost, releasing all the memories of a day that she still thought it was a dream.

Now the train was running by the shore. The wind was enraging the sea, breaking the foamy waves and making them bump against the clifts. Quite a few thin clouds were now covering the blue sky which had governed all the morning and were releasing shy rain drops which were reflecting the sun beams and drawing a magnificent rainbow just over the sea.

For the umpteenth time, she took the book and let it drive her through the Tsarist Russia and so loosing any contact with the reality. She dressed herself with the most soft muslin, covered her naked shoulders with a delicioulsy woven silk mantilla and ran after Anna and Alexis. At some point, she heard a voice calling for the next stop but she could not tell whether it was coming from PA or it was the Chief of the Station of Venice. She felt how the train stopped and started again and, two minuts later, she percieved, more than saw, a guy sitting in front of her. She rised her head and smiled as a welcome greeting. He returned the smile but quickly broke the contact fixing his attention towards the landscape. The shore had again disappeared and now an endless farmland was dominating the scenario.

-Next stop, Durham - announced the same voice. Recognizing the place made her return to the 21st century. She picked the ticket/bookmark from the table and put it into the book again and looked outside while taking her jacket. The clouds had gone away and so the sun was shining again, but the wind was still bending the trees. The guy in front of her rised his head, smiled shyly and muttered a nearly imperceptible goodbye. When the train stopped she was already standing in front of the door, with her little red suitcase on the floor by her side. The wagon's door opened authomatically and she elastically jumped to the platform, looked to both sides and start walking towards the main building.

It took her about three seconds to see him. He was sitting on a bench just by the main entrance, reading one of his brick-sized books. She delayed herself just a moment to look at him and to see how the sun light was playing with his hair making it shine. Even it was already mid summer, his skin was still pale, as if it was able to repel the sunshine. She walked towards him as silent as she could so he just realized of her presence when her shadow covered the light. He looked up and smiled. And not bothering himself by marking the page, he closed the book and placed it back to his bag. Stood up and put his arms around her neck at the same time that she embraced him by his waist.

- Bon dia, Khaleesi - he said slowly, trying to correctly pronunciate the three words.

- Mornin', Khal - she answered happily.

- Oh, it really freaks me how you easily you learn new stuff - he complained without releasing her.

- Complainer. You are doing so well!

- Liar.

- Ha, you know that I am - she agreed looking at him without letting the smile vanish.

As if mutually conveined, they untied the hug and, holding hands, started walking.

- How was the trip?

- Well, the train was quite empty so it's been alright - she said not really knowing what he expected from the question. - Been reading. How's been yours? At what time have you arrived?

- I arrived about two hours ago - he said blushing

- What? Why? - she uttered - But you knew I was arriving at elevenish!

- Yeah, but I did not know whether I would find place to park and it actually turned out that the car park was nearly empty - he ttried to explain himself - Could you please stop laughing?

- Yeah, yeah, just wait a sec - she said drying the tears which were rolling down her cheeks - Oh, done. And what the hell have you been doing since then?

- Well, I've been walking, taking a coffee and reading - he looked at her unable to repress a broken smile. Her eyes were still watered and blushed the cheeks.

- Oh, shame. I was about proposing taking a coffee...

- That's quite a good idea

- Really? But you have just taken another one.

- You know I am always up for a coffee

- Alright - she said - May we go first to the car and leave the suitcase?

- Ok then, the plan is: car, coffee and chat about what we are going to do these days - he resumed - Deal?

- Deal.

To be continued...