Simply a Moment

I open the college door onto a crisp autumn afternoon. We have been so blessed with this golden sunshine the last few weeks.

I start to pace up the hill. I know I am early, my feet urge me on but my head says "hold back". This is only the second time I have paced this path. I am trying to remember where to go, replaying landmarks and paths from our last walk.

My breath is heavier now as the incline increases and the cold air hits my throat. My heart is beating too fast and not just from the climb. I am irrationally excited. I look to my left and the river dances in the late afternoon light, the bridge merely a shadow in the distance.

I take a moment to admire the view yet my feet are calling me on and I obey. The signposts start to speak of my destination yet the hands on the clock have not reached the allotted hour.

I go through the entrance and look up at the electronic boards. the rows and rows of orange letters and numbers. I take a lucky guess and head for the stairs. I am nearly running now, determined not to be late.

I stand on the grey platform. Waiting. Watching.
The minutes on the station clock crawling slowly.
I turn to look at the coffee shop near me and see a sign.

It makes me smile.

Because this moment is magic. This waiting, this expectancy.
Slowly the train starts to woosh into appearance. It slows. It stops.

My eyes frantically scan the hoards of people. I'm searching. Searching for his face. The crowd thins and I still can't see him.

I turn, look up and there he is. A familiar in a sea of strangers faces. We smile. We grin goofily at each other. We gaze at each other through the turnstile that separates us.

It feels a million years between him getting off the train and reaching me.
I try and walk towards him but I realise I am running.

And without realising how I got there I am in his arms. And although we have played this scene a thousand times before we will never get tired of the meeting at the station. In this moment.

Simply a moment. Inspired by Alexa