Tracks Part III

I stop asking myself silly questions. I know he will be there. That my life will change is really only one of the certainties of today. Just how it will change is a bit less predictable, but if things go as anticipated, this life is about to become enriched in many ways - the least of which includes an upgrade to its luggage collection. Or, should all hopes be dashed, perhaps it will turn deeply sad. Still, I'll be stronger for having allowed myself the experience. Whatever the changes, however, they will be the result of the other certainty of today - Jean-Marc will be there to greet me. What path we will follow from there will be decided in a matter of minutes.

The train is ten minutes form its final destination, and the cafe car is closing once again. I have touched up my makeup in a frail attempt to look as if I hadn't just spent more than 11 hours en route while suffering from too little sleep and too much headache. I exit the cafe car, and when I arrive at my seat, I immediately stand on it, reach above my head, grab my suitcase and drop it to the floor (I want off this caboose - let the slip fall where it may). The train slows, and finally rests as the conductor announces our arrival in Montreal. I step onto the platform and find an escalator waitin for me at the far end.

My bags are heavy, my feet are blistered. I hobble to the moving stairway and see othing beyond the crowd ascending in front of me. It's one fo those long escalators, the kind that strech a couple of stories. We ride upward, and as we approach the top, the woman three steps above shifts her shoulder bag just enough for me to spot a glimpse of Jean-Marc peeking through the crowd. He catches my glance and smiles. I smile back and already I'm sure. As I reach the landing and find myself wrapped in his arms, a third certainty makes its mark on today. Today my life has changed for the better.

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