Half-awaked trains yawned and opened their numerous mouths. It's very rude of them, by the way! They have to be taught, how to greet guests properly. Somebody spilled coffee. So, irritated voices of passengers who happened to step in a puddle were added to the normal metropolitan day. Cup of coffee cannot stop the life underground.
But let’s leave the platform for a second. If you worry about your train, please don't. We can assure you it will depart later. Go upstairs to the exit. Right outside the glass doors a girl is handing out fliers. People are walking in and out. None of them take fliers from her hands. The girl is definitely out of fashion, grey skirt with colored flowers, odd sweater, glasses and big wet eyes. Her name is Anna and she got trapped in wires of the 21th century.
Anna’s shift will be over in a few minutes. She will take her bag and catch the train. Among other passengers she will be invisible. But, please, don’t feel sorry. Unlike trains Anna has very good manners. Her dad taught her, how to hold knife and fork, how to bake banana pancakes, what to do in case of fire. Anna’s father was the best operator of the train. And whole metropolitan was his kingdom…
In metropolitan there are always people, who wish to be invisible. You can easily find them by several sings: bowed head, tired red eyes and wet face. They hope wholeheartedly that train will take them away from grief and sadness. Anna saw hundreds of them. She spent a lot of time observing surroundings, waiting her father after work.
On the edge of the platform a woman was looking at the clock. She was grey. And all the eye sparkles had drowned in her greyness. The woman doesn't fit metropolitan, like portrait of Mona Liza doesn't look good at the supermarket walls, too beautiful for stale air underground, too outstanding for watching at the clock. Her train will arrive soon. It's already 11:43.
If you jump, I will jump with you - said Anna.
The woman ignored her and continued to stare at the dial. 1 minute and she will make the last step from the platform.
I am not discouraging you. It's cold at the next station. I just want to hold your hand.
The woman flinched. Sudden touch made her tremble from cold.
Oh, girl... you are freezing. Slow metabolism is a very bad thing. My sons` hands are always cold.
Holding each other, they made one more step to the edge. 20 seconds left before the line. It is wrong to know such things. All the mysteries are vanishing and you are naked in front of your fortune. The clock at the platform was ticking too fast, taking no chances to change the decision. Time is always above us. Suddenly something cracked. Maybe, it was a sound of thought or a fear. Maybe it was another trick of the second hand. The time slowed down. Breathless and sweaty the time stopped running.
The woman looked up at the clock.
She took off her scarf and bent down to wrap Anna's hands. But the girl disappeared from the platform. Soft female voice said: "The train is about to depart! Please, mind the doors" and the woman stepped into the wagon.
She won't wake up - stated a man in a white coat. He looked tired and grey. Today he would be again late for dinner.
I know - said another man.
I am very sorry, Arthur. We have been waiting far too long.
Yeah.
For a minute they kept silence.
I will do, what I should. Leave us alone.
The door slammed. It sounded too loud for the doomed hospital atmosphere. There were no clocks on the walls. It seemed, that time has no authority in hospital. Heart rates are the most precise clocks.
The man, called Author, was quietly sitting near the patients' couch. It was his daily routine for 3 years. Day by day the embers of his hope were growing colder and today turned to ashes. He rehearsed this day for many times in his head and even created a speech, but thing were different. Very carefully Arthur got up from his chair. He pushed the red button on the life support system, kissed his daughter on the forehead and whispered:
Sweat dreams, my princess of metropolitan.
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