Do you sometimes wonder if the Universe is playing havoc with your life?

Bringing you together for a prolonged period of time, encouraging you to forge a deep bond.

Only to flick you apart like two specks of dust in the wind.

Then at a time of its choosing. bringing a static electric jolt to draw you back together once more.

It seems time and unseen forces had given the two of us a second chance.

The only problem now was, I had to make a decision that may bring me pain.

Do I grab hold of that chance, reach for an uncertain future?

Or suffer from the great probability of regret, that I didn't at least try!

..........................................

Peter

As I pushed through the crowed underpass, I wondered why I was doing this. Last week I had resolved to leave things to fate. But once again my patience had wained.

I was jostled aggressively by the thickening throng of workers, heading to catch a train home after the long work day.

As I approached the stairs to my platform, the going slowed to a snails pace, and my impatience and desperation grew. I scanned the stairs hoping to catch a glimpse of him.

Had he already caught a previous train?

Would I be too late?

I kicked myself that I hadn't left work earlier, hadn't allowed more time.

The familiar diesel smell and the sound of squealing air brakes filled my senses as I finally made the platform. My train pulled to a stop, the doors opened and the crush moved forward.

My heart raced as the fear of missing the train hit. I moved forward heading for carriage No.9, ducking into gaps, weaving my way through the passengers. Finally I stepped through the door, with a sense of relief.

I made my way down the steps, happy to find an empty seat. I settled myself, pressing my shoulder hard against the cold window, placing my bag down between my feet.

Now I had a chance to look for him.

He was sitting over on the far side of the carriage, his back to me. I recognized the back of his head, the sandy brown hair at his nape curling under the collar of his dark Grey coat. His broad shoulders tilted, squashed up against the window like mine.

It was always an effort, struggling not to bump up against the person next to you. Having to hold your body stiffly in the small seats, very quickly became uncomfortable.

But now at least I could be content. I had the next 45mins to stare at the back of that head unnoticed.

I let my thoughts wander.

......................................

Knox

I sat squashed and uncomfortable. There was never enough leg room. I couldn't wait for some of the passengers to start leaving, at least I would be able to shift my legs to the side a bit.

Usually my large frame was not a problem, until I stepped on the train twice daily.

I don't know how many times I cursed myself for not being able to drive. My condition, made it impossible to ever get a license. This was my fate, and however hard, I needed to accept it.

I sighed and looked at the glass of the window beside me. The lights inside the train and the darkness outside turned the glass to a mirror. I looked at the reflections of the passengers seated around me.

Was he here?

Not that I was wanting him to be. I was just curious.

I studied those reflections for a couple of minutes but didn't catch sight of him. I felt a bit disappointed, it would have made the trip more interesting. Broken the boredom of a trip that was so regular and monotonous.

Was he sitting somewhere behind me? I could turn and have a look around but that would be too obvious. I imagined him sitting behind me studying the back of my head, and felt a prickling of goose bumps.

Shaking away that unnerving feeling, I thought about the recent coincidences surrounding that one stranger. How long had it been?

I had first noticed him on the train three weeks ago. I had a habit of daydreaming. I would just be looking around at the faces of random passengers, off in my own thoughts. I probably wouldn't have taken any notice of him, but something had drawn my eye to him that evening.

A good looking, Blond haired young man, absently tapping his fingers against the window, he looked deep in thought. Dressed in a business suit, he looked just like the majority of other male passengers on the train.

Until he turned abruptly and looked directly at me.

We had locked eyes for just a few seconds, my heart had jumped, his face had reddened and then he had turned away. I had an instant feeling of embarrassment at having been caught staring, I had looked away too!

He hadn't crossed my mind again, until I had seen him again on the train each evening. It was nothing strange to see the same people each day, but then it happened again, over and over. Not only on the train. I would see him eating at a Cafe as I walked past, in the line, at the takeaway when I purchased my lunch. Outside the station, inside the station. Strange Huh?

Was it just that, my eyes seemed to zone into him, now that I recognized him, or was it something else?

I almost thought he could be placing himself in-front of me on purpose, but that was idiocy. And what would be his motivation if he was?

It had to be all in my head!

The lady sitting beside me got up as the next station came into view, and gratefully I shifted into a more comfortable position.

Weary from the busy day, and all of the ridiculous thoughts in my head, I closed my eyes.

Hey!

I felt my arm being prodded, and nudged the annoyance away.

Hey! Wake Up, you will miss your stop!

This got my attention and I jolted awake. Shifting forward abruptly and grabbing my bag, I staggered to a stand, my sleep fogged brain trying to catch up with my legs. The train braked and I stumbled, a hand caught my arm to balance me.

I was bodily pulled up the steps, and pushed out through the open doors.

The doors closed behind me, and I turned to catch a glimpse of the one who had saved me from a late night of train hopping.

An amused face smiled back at me through the smudged glass door of the departing train. Him!