Ugo approached the train just as it was halting to a stop. A cloud of smoke rushed forward from underneath and was illuminated by the train's front light. He put his hand on the rail that led to the door and paused. Was he doing the right thing, should he continue on with what he was doing? He put his head down, deep in thought, a bit of water that had collected from the rain poured down from his Fedora. The full moon lit up the few drops that followed it and reflected the face of a beautiful young woman.
“Excuse me.” she said softly.
It was her, just as the old man described. Long, blond, wavy, hair, heart-shaped face and beautiful green eyes that could light up a room....
“My apologies.” His voice was always kind and sincere just as he was himself. He entered the train and took a look at the ticket stub. He headed for the compartment 2A, working his way around everyone else and their luggage that consumed the aisle. He knocked, waited and then entered. The compartment was empty. He took off his trench coat and set it across the arm of his chair and placed his hat on top. He brushed his hair back away from his face as he sat down.
The green-eyed girl entered.
“Oh! Hello again!” she said. She paused waiting for a reply but Ugo said nothing and just smiled back. As she put her lugguge away, Ugo reached in the side pocket of his coat and took out a pocket watch and began playing with it. Opening and closing it.
“It's absolutely dreadful outside.” she said cheerfully, sitting down across from Ugo.
The train let out a whistle and slowly started accelerating. The girl's face sadden and she put her head down into her hands, as if trying to keep herself from crying.
“Yeah.” Ugo said, not knowing what to say.
She quickly brought her head back up as if nothing was wrong and let out a few small giggles to cover up the cries that were trying to come out.
“You know, my father use to tell me that there's always something in the day, no matter how dreadful, that you could look back and smile on.” she smiled for the moment, thinking of her father.
Ugo impatiently, looked at the watch, feelings the engraved designs with his figure tips. He just didn't know how to say it, it was difficult for him, but why? Both were gazing out the window and could feel a type of tension building up.
Sydney put her hand on the glass window and followed the little streams of water that ran across with her fingers.
“I'm sorry.” she said sadly. “It's my father, he's....” she choked on her words a bit. “I just got word that he passed away a few weeks ago.”
If Ugo was going to say anything, now was the time.
“It's no coincidence that we share the same compartment.” Ugo finally said. “I knew your father Sydney.”
Sydney looked up at Ugo in shock. Her eyes filled up and tears started pouring out.
“He...” Ugo started, trying not to let it upset him too. “He wanted me to give you this.”
Ugo handed over the pocket watch, Sydney opened it and read the engraving.
with every heartbeat
you radiate a special type of love
share it with the world
Sydney shut her eyes tight and held the watch close to her heart. In many ways she felt relief, as though her father was there with her. The watch was a special gift to Sydney and the engravings was her father's last dying wish... he simply wanted her to be happy.
“How did you know my father?” she asked quietly.
Ugo peered out the window, all dark except for the rain. Ugo sighed.
“I did not know him well, I was just passing through town, overheard some people talk about a man and an illness.... said that all he could talk about was how he wanted to see his daughter one last time.”
Ugo took a moment, to let Sydney absorb some of the information.
“Eventually, I found him, offered my services as a doctor, unfortunately, there wasn't anything I could do. Just before he passed, he handed me that watch and said, 'will you please find her, find my daughter and see that she gets this?' and... that was it.” Ugo said as the train slowed to it's next stop.
Sydney let out a big sigh “my father would have really liked you” she said, almost in a daze looking out the window and starring out at the people waiting to board. When Sydney turned her head to look at Ugo, he was gone, almost as if he had disappeared.
“I didn't even know your name.” she said, looking down at the watch and watching it tick.
Ugo was already off the train. He stood silently, tucked away in the dark, as he watched the train slowly take off to go to it's next destination. Ugo didn't know if he was ever going to find what he was looking for in his travels, but he was beginning to feel different. He wasn't sure why he did what he did, but felt a kind of peace about it, a kind of peace that he had never felt before.
