Prequel to my tragic story "After the train." Part 6.
###########################
Thursday 3rd March 2016. Howard limped into the Pasadena Comic Centre.
Stuart came from behind the counter "Howard, good to see you but I am so sorry. Here come and sit down."
Stuart helped Howard over to the sofa.
"Good to see you my friend, I don't have many of those left now."
"So what exactly happened on the train?"
"We were about 4 hours into the journey, not that far from Los Angeles. We were all in the dining car finishing off our dinner when suddenly there was a huge bang and the lights went out. Next thing I remember waking up lying on the side of the train track, Amy was lying a few metres away from me. Then I woke up in hospital."
"I heard your train was hit by another train?"
"Yes, our vintage train collided head on with a giant goods train. Our 100 year old wooden train carriage just disintegrated. Amy and I both had window seats on the train, we must have been flung through the window. We were the only survivors from the dining car. My wife Bernadette is dead, my best friend Raj is dead. Sheldon, Leonard and Penny are dead, only Amy and I survived."
By now Howard was in floods of tears.
"Oh Howard, if there's anything I can do to help? How badly were you hurt?"
"Considering what happened I got off lightly, cuts and bruises and a few broken bones. I will be using this cane for a few weeks to help me walk but after that I should be fine. I am well enough to travel to the funerals of Penny, Sheldon and Leonard over the next few days. Raj has already been cremated, his ashes are back home in India. Bernadette's funeral will be in 8 days time."
"I will be there for Bernadette. How is Amy?"
"She is still in the hospital. Here injuries aren't much worse than mine, although she has a broken leg. She's in a coma, she hasn't woken up since the train. I am off to the hospital to go and see her after I leave the Comic Book store."