A train was moving down towards its next station. The train was a shell, it was filled with people each with their own problems and desires. The people, however, were all looking outward, either through their phones or the windows; even a person giving the passing glance at the skyrail, would only make out the steel frame and the glare of the setting sun, as it quickly sped beyond their vision and interest. The stuff outside was much more interesting anyway…

So, if there was no one truly observing the contents of the train did it really exist?

That was a fascinating question, but no, Vic’s phone ran out of battery. He forgot to charge it and he was too bored to look out the windows...

This all to say that Vic was staring at people.

Looking at people wasn’t exactly fun, and he could easily been seen as a creep but Vic wasn’t one to care. He gained plenty of sparce knowledge, except from the fact that guy sitting next to him had his laces undone; or that the inconspicuous girl sitting a few seats from him might’ve been one of his old classmates from ages ago, but one couldn’t be so sure.

Although, the fact the kid across him kept stealing longing looks at the lollipop in his mouth, did give him a bit of stifled mirth.

So, I’m not the only one looking at other people.

He did empathise with kid, but he was positively amused.

“Arriving at… ‘Blackbrent Cross’, please mind the gap” a familiar voice blared out, reverberating throughout the train, knocking Vic out of his head and making him abruptly stand up.

Immediately, he hastily thrust his hand in his pocket where it found a lone ‘yellow’ mega supa sour lollipop- his least favourite flavour, and thus, for a good moment he contemplated chucking it to the kid, but something about the quickly shutting doors and the odd not-looks he was receiving got him moving along hastily alright.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Vic’s eyes met the yellowing sky as he crossed the boundary of the train and walked into familiar outside world. The picturesque gradient upon the horizon, however, seemed to fall right through him.

Vic’s route home was pretty good (that’s at least what he used to think) but now that blossoming magnolia by the station didn’t even get a second glance.

Without a delay, Vic walked past the ticket scanner, his hand revealing a worn-out card subconsciously, as not to interrupt his bored contemplation.

Although while exiting the station, funnily enough, Vic saw someone taking a picture of that same tree, it did look good he supposed, it was spring, once again.

He walked towards it, the magnolia tree, a flash of pink amid green and grey. He made sure to stand there at least until the person in front of him left. Which in fact was right after he stopped, maybe they were repelled by the grating sound of lollipop bits being loudly chewed, who knows?

Swallowing the candy, Vic tossed the diligently cleaned stick onto sidewalk while giving a quick glance to fleeing man. It was a bad habit he supposed, chewing lollipops: it was kind of a waste, reducing the consumption time and it didn’t allow one to fully enjoy the flavour of the treat. A sort of sacrilege for a candy lover like him, he thought as he stuffed another yellow lollipop into the sugar-coated confines of his mouth, although he should be allowed to do it once and while, it was satisfying.

Letting the fresh pop sit on his tongue, Vic properly studied the pale flowers for the first time in a while, before he was promptly swept away by the parched stream of people on the sidewalk.

Vic was in the mood of thinking of nothing in particular, so it was only natural he ignored the lady quietly greeting him after he got back home. Looking up from his thoughts only to look down at his restarting phone. Not even tearing his eyes away while he tossed the chewed stick of a citrus flavoured lollipop in the vague direction of a bin.

Not bothering to change out of his school uniform, there Vic was, boring his eyes into the colourful images on the screen as he lay half-heartedly on top of his bed.

Until he fell asleep.

After which, curiously, he was no longer on his bed nor was he anywhere near to his bed. Although... it would be rather aribtrary to describe how far away from his room, he, Victor Praelia was when he next opened his eyes.