Rain...one of those little things hat naturally occur,but probably the easiest to like.At least,Shu liked the rain,especially on nights when he worked late and had to wait for the bus home.Only tonight,he wasn't at the bus station-they were closed due to power outages.So he found himself at the nearest train station,waiting underneath a plastic barrier built to ward off rain and such.He wasn't too old,only around twenty-five,and as far as he himself was concerned,he'd led a pretty fulfilling life,including marrying the woman he'd loved since High School.Still thinking about that brought a smile to his face no matter how crappy his day had been,though even that couldn't shake the feeling from him that something was...off...about tonight.Murmuring that it was just his imagination,he heard the whistle of a train pierce the night as an old fashioned one streaked into sight,stopping in front of him.Eyebrow raised-he'd thought they had retired these old relics long ago-he pulled his hood up over his head to keep it from getting wet and sprinted for the open door of the passenger compartment.Once inside,he took a seat near the door and sighed,his head reclining against the window gently.The lurching motion of the train beginning to move didn't bother him,for he was semi-used to it from the way the buses reacted when they took off,but the sound of footsteps on the metal flooring brought his head up to see a man in a train conductors uniform.The man took the seat across from him and nodded politely,and he returned it."Don't normally ride the train,do you?"the man suddenly asked,leaning back into his chair and pulling a bottle of whiskey from under it,offering Shu some,which he declined."No Sir,I'm usually a bus rider,"he answered,taking the time t look the other man over and note his details.He saw though,which brought a flush to Shu's cheeks and caused him to laugh."Don't worry,I'm not gonna try anything...I just wanna talk is all.Besides,you've been feeling like somethings weird tonight,no?"The question took Shu by surprise,and this just encouraged the man to continue speaking."It's the feeling of missing something,no?If you want...I can tell you what it is."Smiling mysteriously,the other man stood and walked from the cabin,humming a tune softly and tossing the bottle from hand to hand,leaving Shu with a confused look.How had he know what he was feeling?Was it that clear to others how he felt right then?Shaking his head and calling himself a fool,he leaned back and fell asleep,waking a few minutes later when the train stopped,the conductor standing against the wall across from him."Your stop son..."he said softly,his face more solemn than before,which startled Shu."Uh...thanks Sir,"he mumbled,standing and walking out of the train,looking back at the man,who looked...sad..."Wonder why?"he thought to himself as he began walking toward his home,where his wife would be waiting for him to return from work.Again the thought of her brought a smile to his face,and it was still there when he walked through his door."Babe?I'm home..."he called out,walking into the living room,where she,along with her sister and parents,was sitting,he face red and her eyes puffy as if she'd been crying."What's wrong Love?!"he questioned,rushing to her ad kneeling,trying to take her hands in his,but failing to,since they passed right through them."I told you to come ask me about it on the train m'boy..."someone said from behind Shu,and when he turned,he saw the conductor."What the hell is this?!"he demanded,jumping up and grabbing the man by the collar."Why...you're dead...that's why you've been having that feeling..."the other man said softly,pulling up the T.V remote and turning it on,where a news report was saying where a bus had crashed over the side of a bridge a few hours earlier,killing everyone that was on it."It's been a busy night...and you're only one of many souls I need to take to your final home..."he said softly to Shu,who was now crying himself."C'mon...she'll meet you on the other side when it's her time...I promise..."Nodding as the man wrapped an arm around his shoulders,Shu looked back one last time,mouthed 'I love you' then looked forward,where a door of light had opened up to allow the pair to enter.
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