Chapter 7: The red train

There's a wide plain stretching as far as the eyes can see, tiny houses divide the horizon where sky meets earth. Wild grass and green leaves sway from the soft breeze that sweeps through the dale. The sun casts life bringing beams toward the earth's surface, only slightly shadowed by a few clouds.

A length of railway cuts through the landscape like a laceration, yet beautiful in its own way. Smoke rise from the funnel on the steam train on its endless travel. Now and then it will halt for a break on the many depots along its path.

My sight is both unfocused and clear, as if I can see all, yet unable to understand it. I just know that I'm supposed to wait here, without a notion as to why. There's no feeling or thought, as if I'm existing in both nothingness and everything at the same time. Time or space doesn't have a meaning, like an eternity yet only a second.

Red steel doors clear a path for me to step onboard, to follow wherever its engine will lead. Action drives me forward, urging me to take the final track on this long journey.

A large white shape sweeps past me, it doesn't seem to have any meaning, yet stirs something within the emptiness that consumed me until now.

My featherweight body stride onward, black shapeless hands that I can't really tell if they're my own, grab the rail beside the door.

"Chihiro stop!"

I can't tell if it's a sound or not, yet its tune seems familiar somehow, as if I should know what it means. Yet I can only move forward, urged by the promise of peace and calm.

"Please! Don't board that train!"

The white mass which passed by an eternity ago, seems to loop around me, holding me in a gentle embrace. I want to board that train, every nerve in my being calls me to do so. Yet this heat enclosing me, feels like something I've missed for years.

"Stay here with me…"

A subtle weight settles against my shoulder, I can feel.

My hand lift toward whatever rests against me, I can touch.

It's as if everything transpires all at once; the black shapeless forms turn solid and colorful, my eyes can comprehend the surroundings, my thoughts clear up and I'm able to understand.

Then I know, who I am, where I am, and who's with me.

"Haku…"

It's a soft whisper, containing every sorrow and wonderful longing I've ever felt.

I want to turn around, to see him, but he's holding tight, refusing to let go.

"Chihiro…"

Something wet trickles down my shoulder, I wonder if he's crying.

"I'm here…"

The turquoise mane and white scales slowly fade away and disappear. Now that I'm allowed to turn around, it's difficult to face him. So much time has passed, so much have changed, I've changed. What will he think, will he even recognize me? I'm finally at the place I've dreamed about for years, with the person I've longed for ever since I was ten. Yet I am unable to act? I won't allow it.

I take a deep breath to steel myself, then slowly turn towards him.

I lift my eyes and inspect the young man standing before me. His body is tall and toned, facial features are gentle and handsome, his long hair is essex green and strapped in a wild ponytail. There's almost no resemblance with the boy I once knew. Yet there's one thing that will never change, something that I wouldn't ever forget, even as my eyes grew blind and my mind deteriorated. Those emerald eyes that are gentle as the calmest waves. I've seen them in my mind a thousand times, and they're just as beautiful as I remember.

"It's really you…"

I place both my hands against my mouth to halt the sobs that try to escape. But I can't hinder the tears which flow down my cheeks like a waterfall.

"Is this real… it must be a dream…"

The words are muffled and weak, and I bite my lip behind the barrier of my hands. I collapse in a heap on the ground and the dam bursts apart, even though I tried my best to fight it. Tears form and replace with new ones; I wipe them away over and again with my hand, my sobs drown in whimpers.

It feels like I'll melt from every complicated emotion trying to consume me, euphoria, cheerfulness, confidence, impatience, insecurity, sorrow, resentment. They're too strong to fathom, yet the only one I wish to feel is relief.

He moves toward me and bend down, resting on his knee before me.

"Are you really here?..."

His voice is a whisper, soothing and warm. I raise my head even though I must look like something the cat dragged in. My sight is blurry from tears clinging to my eyelashes, yet I want nothing more than to look at him forever.

His hand reaches slowly for my cheek and something like embarrassment seems to grip me. My body is blazing hot, as if my skin would burst into embers. When his finger touches my face, it feels as if my body will dissolve. We're encompassed by a blinding light, and I explode into thousands of brilliant butterflies. I'm swept away by the wind like a cloud of fire. Guided by an invisible force that seems to take me to an unknown place.

I can't change course; I can't control a single part of myself.

Hi everyone who have stayed with me so far!

I've written so much more than was planned. In the beginning this was supposed to be a short novel about Chihiro and when she meets Haku again. I guess there were just too many ideas and thoughts on where this could lead.

There's a lot of stuff waiting for Chihiro and Haku, definitely more than they bargained for!

Hope you've enjoyed this story so far, in a week the next chapter will be up!

Thanks so much for your contribution, as always, it means everything to me!