[Im]Possibilities

• Celia

Celia only had one small suitcase.  Standing on the platform of the train station, she wrinkled her nose in disgust at the dust rising off the tracks as the cars rattled past. It was hard to tell that she afraid, but she was biting her lip and glancing at every man who walked past.  A ticket was clutched tightly in her hand.  She didn’t recognize the name of the town she was heading to; she only knew that it was south.  

Her train pulled up, and passengers spilled from the cars, spewing onto the station platform.  After the train had emptied, uniformed men began taking tickets and helping people onto the trains.  She was next.  Handing her crumpled ticket to the conductor, she handed him her suitcase and grabbed the railing, jumping up the steps herself. 

“You’re an independent one, aren’t you, missy?” he asked as he passed her the bag she had thrust at him.

“A bit, thanks.”  She looked down at her ticket. 

“Seat 123 is to the right,” the conductor smiled kindly at her as he sent her in the right direction.  Only nodding, she followed the way his finger was pointing and easily found her seat. 

• The Conductor

Today was unusual.  Normally, he would not have remembered a single passenger to hand him a ticket and walk past him, other than the regulars who rolled through several times a week.  But when the young women clambered on board, alone, he made certain to remember her face. 

The last time a woman had boarded the train alone, she had been fleeing from debtor’s prison.  It was all too common to see young women spending more than they could afford in an attempt to be seen as one of the elite members of society. 

But this one was different.  She did not have the arrogant bearing of an aristocrat, yet she did not have the humble air of the lower classes. 
The girl was a different breed altogether. 

• Celia

Leaning against the window, she absentmindedly twisted the ring around her finger.  It meant nothing to her, but she could not bear to get rid of it.  It had once meant that her future was bright.  Now the ring represented a sentiment that she could never bring back. 

The train lurched forward as it pulled out of the station, leaving behind the dreary station and whatever fate had intended for them back in that town. 

TO BE CONTINUED

Recenty, quite possibly today, actually, I remembered that I have a Tumblr.  So maybe I will actually start using it again. 

But to start off with, I am definitely living the college live.  My one cup of sweetened coffee beverage has jumped to at least six cups of coffee, black, simply because the sweetening process is too time consuming. 

I would like to say I’m learning a lot, but my English and Critical Thinking classes are only challenging in that they require me to put forth work to keep up with them.  Luckily I came here primarily for the equine program as opposed to the English program, otherwise I should have been sorely disappointed. 

In an interesting turn of events, I am actually enjoying my biology class.  My roomie has taken it into her head to possibly convert me into a fellow bio major, which is not going to happen. 

And of course I love my barn time.  I may be the only student in Horse Care Practicum who has yet to complain about getting up at 6 to make sure I can drink 2 cups of coffee before being at the barn by 7:06 am.  It’s an opportunity to solidify skills I already have and then learn some new ones.  Like saddle fit.  I never knew how to fit a saddle, and now even though I need more practice, I can successfully fit a saddle to a horse.  I’m not going to lie; I can’t wait until we start wrapping legs.  That is another on my to-do list of things to learn. 

My riding class is going fairly well also.  I have had a few basic issues to improve upon, and I am in the perfect class to do so without worrying about being overfaced.  When I do happen to move up, it will be cake!  Also had try-outs this past week… I must admit that I am a bit nervous to see how I did.

Cia,

Lindsey

I dreamt of the ocean.  It rolled and swelled underneath me, though I was not in the water.  Nor was I in the sky. 

I was looking for you, but I could only see the waves, blue and gray, and the sky.  And there was nothing else.  But I knew you were searching for me too.  Or waiting for me to find you; I’m not sure which.  Maybe both. 

I tried calling your name, but I did not know it.  The wind snatched at my voice and carried it over my shoulder and away from you.  The clouds thickened and blocked the sun, and I was alone. 

The sea became rougher, rebelling against the air that raged above it.  The sky wanted to keep me, keep me from you.