The ICE stopped at every station. Small towns in the middle of nowhere. They bargained themselves an ICE station for the land needed for rail line.

Parallel to the rail line was the A3, a German autobahn. Parts of the autobahn were filled with traffic. The ICE entered tunnels in quick succession with many bridges in between. The land is quite mountainous here. There are no really big mountains, but it was enough to be a problem for trains. So they bridged the valleys and tunneled the mountains from the beginning of the Taunus until the line reached more flat land a bit south of Cologne.

The sun was deep but would not be setting before I was home this time of the year.

We left Montabaur a few minutes ago. I’d leave the train on the next stop.

“Excuse me.” I said, obviously disrupting the lanky guys train of thought.

“Y-Yes?” He looked a bit shaken.

I tried my best smile which seemed to relax him a bit.

“I have to get off the train at the next stop.” I started and he immediately started to get up.

“Please stay seated. Next stop is in about 20 minutes.” I interrupted him.

“O-Okay.” He sat down again.

“Where are you headed to?” I tried to bridge the awkward silence.

“I-I will be at the Gamescon this weekend.” he said with a hint of a smile.

“Ah. The last time I’ve been there is a few years ago. There are too many people there for me, especially at the weekend when everybody has time to go.” I shrugged.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

“But everyone has his own preferences.” I chuckled.

“Y-Yes, that’s true.” Somehow he blushed a bit.

“I’m on my way home. I’ve been hiking for a few days.” I smiled.

“Have fun with your Gamescon. Checking for new games is a good way to spend the time.” I winked.

He stared at me mouth agape.

“Did I say something wrong?” I tiled my head.

“N-No, No , I-I am only a bit surprised.” He looked down at his knees.

“I see. I like playing games as well.” The landscape was rushing by.

He seemed to be a bit flustered.

“Just have fun. We only life once.” I smiled at him.

“S-Sorry. I didn’t mean to presume.” he gulped.

“No offense taken.” I gave him a wide smile.

Looking over my shoulder I noticed the woman with the monster of a suitcase getting up a few rows behind me. She came down the aisle giving me a short smile as she passed by. I nodded back.

I watched the swiftly passing countryside for a while until we entered the next tunnel.

Suddenly a loud bang accompanied by a ear piercing screech of shearing metal filled the air.

Then I was pulled forward against the seat in front of me. I twisted my torso right and crashed with my left shoulder in the seat in front of me.

The boy to my right had crashed face forward into the seat in front of him. He was screaming in panic.

People were skittering down the aisle, and noticed the woman I helped with her suitcase before. She managed to slow herself down by trying to grapple the seats beside the aisle.

I clamped my right hand to the back of my seat and managed to brace both of my shoulders to the seats in front of me.

I nearly bashed the boys head. He partially came to his senses and managed to pull up his legs for support, in a way kneeling on the back of the seat in front of him.

In the meantime I braced my legs to the back of my seat. Meanwhile the woman was struggling at the back of the boys seat. Suddenly the pull forward weakened. The boy fell back on his seat with his back. He grabbed my left leg in panic.

When I met the woman’s desperate gaze I offered her my right arm. She seized it and we clamped on each others forearms. Then I pulled her into the row. She landed on the back of the seat in front of the boy, her head crashing into my chest, knocking the wind out of me.

Suddenly everything started to float, but only for a fraction of a second. Then the world went dark as the seat started to give way behind me.