Mothers would tuck in little children. Daddies would
kiss them on their cheeks or foreheads and promise
them an even brighter or happier tomorrow. I had no one to promise me a happier or
brighter tomorrow, no one but Angel. She and I sat
like two lost children being pulled into the unknown.
We were tired and hungry and already quite lonely.
Even though the gentleman across from me eyed me
curiously when I placed Angel firmly in my lap, I kept
her there, hugging her tightly to me as the train rolled on. I was determined. There was no turning back, not now, not ever. Soon, the monotonou
s rhythm of its
wheels put me to sleep.
I awoke with a start in the middle of the night.
It was dark in the car, but there were lights on the
outside of the train and lights in the corridor, so after
my initial confusion, I remembered exactly where I
was and what I had done. The gentleman across from
me was asleep with his newspaper opened on his lap.
His body rocked from side to side with the train. I
curled up again and closed my eyes. In moments, I
was asleep once more.
I awoke with the first light of morning and
looked out over the farms and fiat fields. The elderly
gentleman was already awake.
"How far are you going, Miss?" he asked. "Atlanta."
"I get off at the next stop. You've got a good
five hours more. You can get some breakfast in the
dining car. Very pretty doll," he said nodding toward
Angel. "I don't think I've ever seen one that pretty," he
added with a smile of admiration.
"Thank you."