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| Short Stories : Charlie |
I've been sitting here on the platform for half an hour. It's windy and wet and cold. Autumn has a firm grip on the land and is driving rain showers and leaves in front of it.
A sunny future lies ahead of me on the east coast of Australia. A future with Tom.
I look nervously at the clock, my train is about to arrive.
Tom my farmer, blond and blue-eyed, strong, tanned and tall. He runs a farm with his brother. I met him by chance when he was attending a congress here in Germany. We fell in love quickly, and when he flew back he left me with heartache and the promise of a long and happy marriage. I was in seventh heaven.
A time of hustle and bustle began. I quit my boring job as an insurance company secretary. Charlie would take over my little apartment, then at least I wouldn't have to liquidate it. I sent part of my household a few weeks ago. Tom is preparing the farm for my move. He sent me samples of curtain fabrics so that I could choose the most beautiful ones.
Charlie has been helping me a lot lately. If only it wasn't for the sadness in Charlie's eyes. How long have we known each other? Charlie is familiar to me like no other person. We spent a large part of our youth together. Lived on the same street, laughed a lot together and enjoyed life. Saying goodbye to Charlie is difficult, infinitely difficult. Charlie didn't want to accompany me to the train station, hates farewell scenes at train stations.
Charlie ... Charlie ... again and again Charlie! Why can't I get Charlie out of my head with just Charlie? Damn it, I should look forward to my future with Tom.
My train is announced by a woman's voice in tin. Just three more minutes. My new life starts in Australia. Pure adventure. Tom and me. I have my past here next to me in a brown-checked suitcase.
The train floats quietly onto platform seven and stops. "Charlie ... Charlie!" It pounds in my head. My God, what am I doing here? Three more minutes. Tom-Charlie ...! "Charlie!" I almost scream it out. Charlie's sad eyes look at me from the panes of the train window. The conductor whistles, the doors close automatically. The train begins to move heavily.
When the last people left the platform, my rigid limbs slowly came to life again. I see the taillights of the train to Frankfurt that was supposed to take me to the airport.
Slowly and lost in thought I walk towards the exit with my suitcase. I have to write to Tom. I can't help it. Charlie! For years only friendship and now this! Tom will certainly forgive me at some point, even if he is hurt now. I didn't know before that I love Charlie, love more than any man in the world.
When I look up from the platform into the open station hall, I see a familiar figure standing in front of the station clock in the twilight: Charlie.
Lonely and lost among all the people who are running by in a hurry and bustle.
> Charlie is here! <My steps are getting faster and faster, I run, I run. Charlie spreads his arms and catches me. We cry and laugh.
> My beloved Charlie! My sweet little Charlotte, "I can only stammer," I couldn't drive. "
She presses her face into my hair and whispers very softly, almost like a breath: 'I love you, Judith. Never leave me again
Author : Monika Klemmstein
