Kingdom of Paths and nocturnes

  Ridding the train back home I came upon a curios sight when passing a station one day and the person who walked in from that station. I travel by train to every location I visit even though flights are quicker, I preferred the sights that trains and buses afforded to me. Staring at the vast expanses of just blue or black makes me feel anxious for some reason and I’d prefer to avoid that. It was about 1 am when the train stopped at this station, I found this curious because the station was not on any map I have. The station was a small one that had a single platform from there passengers would enter or exit and that it was not well lit either. I could barely make out the structure of the place and the white painted stands looked unkempt, what really stood out was the booth at the end of the platform, it was an old structure that made me feel like I was stuck in the early ages. The passenger was a talk man wearing a wide had, his face was pale to the point it made feel like he ...

  “So tell me soldier, in what war have you fought?” the captain asked as we sailed through the swamp. I looked at the river ahead and mulled on the answer, the flies swarming all around us while the smell of rot hung in the air. The heat was almost unbearable this time of the year and I really did not care for it. “I fought the jungle war if that is what you are askin’ and honestly it wasn’t worth the money they paid. We weren’t fighting soldiers but village people who were defending their lands.” He looked on knowing what I meant, he did not say anything till we reached the pier. There as I stepped out the boat he put a hand on my should and spoke “I know you don’t want to preached to but understand this brother, war is a cancer that will either kill you or eat you from within. I have seen too many die fighting wars long after the real ones ended. Take care and if you need a job you know where I am.” I nodded and left him standing there on the boat. I walked on the shaky pier...

  Priya sat at the pavement and looked down at her torn shoe, it was old but it was the only thing she had from her father. The day he had bought it for her was the best day in her life then, now it felt like it was the only life she had. The day was cold and the wind was biting at her, shivering she wrapped herself with her hands and tried to rub some warmth but the clothes she wore were not meant for this weather. Looking around she was scared and alone but there was a sense of peace now that she was away from the life she did not want. It was hard to leave but she had to or it would have eaten everything in her that was her identity. “Can I sit here?” came a voice from behind, this startled Priya and she looked at the figure standing behind her. How could she have walked up to Priya without even being noticed. “I… I guess. Wait.” It was too late at the girl sat down next to her and stretched out and yawned, she looked older than Priya but dressed like a 90’s punk girl. Bla...