1864

Chapter 1: Away from Home

October 18, 1861

Dear Diary,

Today is a day I will cherish for the rest of my life. It feels as though everything has finally fallen into place. After years of hard work and dedication, I've been given the promotion I've dreamed of. I can hardly believe it-station master! And not just anywhere, but here in Romania, where the railway is just beginning to make its mark on the world.

The thought of being a part of something so new, so significant, fills me with pride. This town, though small, is alive with the promise of change. The railway will transform everything-bringing people, goods, and opportunities in ways this place has never known. And I, Robert Lockwood, will be at the heart of it all, ensuring the station runs smoothly, that trains come and go on time, and that the townspeople experience the wonders of modern transportation. However the girl wasn't the one dancing well however soon afterwards, the girl begin to question, how is that possible

The position comes with a considerable raise, more than I could have imagined. Marilyn, my dear wife, is overjoyed. She's already making plans for how we'll spend it, and I can't say I blame her. We've struggled for years, scraping by on what I earned. But now, we have enough. More than enough. The railway company has provided us with a home in a lovely residential society, right near the station. It's spacious, clean, and better than anything we've ever lived in before.

Marilyn was so excited when I told her the news. She smiled in that way she does, the way that makes me fall in love with her all over again. She immediately started talking about how we could finally give our children, Arthur and Emily, the life they deserve. Arthur is nine now, growing more inquisitive by the day, always asking me questions about how the trains work. I'm looking forward to the day when I can take him to the station and show him the engines up close. Emma, at seven, is more interested in her dolls and books, but I can see her eyes light up whenever she hears a train whistle in the distance.

I can't help but feel that this is the start of something new-not just for me, but for all of us. A fresh beginning, a brighter future. Everything I've worked for has led to this moment. And now, here we are, stepping into a new life in Romania, a new town Lakeshire with the railway and the endless possibilities it will bring.

Today marks our first full day in Lakesshire, and I must admit, the town is unlike anything I could have imagined. As the horse carriage rattled over uneven cobblestones, I couldn't help but be mesmerized by the landscape that surrounded us. The towering Carpathian Mountains loomed in the distance, their peaks shrouded in mist, as if nature itself wished to hide its secrets. The trees, tall and ancient, stood like sentinels, their branches swaying ever so slightly in the cool, crisp air. A wide lake stretched to the east of the town, its waters still and mirror-like, reflecting the overcast sky. I caught glimpses of the town's silhouette-its rooftops sharp and jagged like the tips of spears-and felt an odd mixture of dread and fascination.

Marilyn, seated beside me in the carriage, pointed out the vibrant autumn leaves that carpeted the ground. Their reds and oranges seemed almost unnaturally vivid against the town's somber backdrop. The children, seated across from us, were chattering excitedly about the move. Jonathan, my eldest at thirteen, was curious about the new place, while little Emma, barely eight, was just happy to be in the carriage. I could sense their excitement, though a twinge of unease fluttered in my chest.

I must admit, I was drawn to Lakeshire from the moment the offer was presented. Back in London, life had been growing stagnant. I was a junior station master then, overseeing the comings and goings of trains at King's Cross, a position that paid well enough but felt... mundane. With the Industrial Revolution sweeping across Europe, railways were becoming the arteries of modern civilization. New lines were being laid down with an almost feverish urgency, connecting towns and cities, ushering in progress. It was this very wave of progress that brought the offer from Romania-a post as the head station master in Lakesshire, with a salary far exceeding anything I could have earned back home.