Floodlights

Chapter 9

Clothes are hanging off, almost trying themselves to leap away from a bedraggled forfeiting Matthew. The elation and peaks of before are only matched by his desperation and a lonely leper come down that's crashed upon him by another sleepless night. His body walks to work: tie like his mind at half mast leaving only his fist clenched, holding all the frustration, anger and heat ready to explode. He sits exhausted in the station waiting for his train or at least some inspiration to break free from life's battering. Call for various trains come and go as he ignores them just sitting as staring at a crack in the station's wall. His sighs and gentle exhaling are gasps for life from his spirit struggling to breathe. As he sits the busy station falls away. He stops seeing the rush hour rats scurrying from one routine to another. They swirl like energy matter around his person: whites, reds, purples and ghostly green. The train's call comes over the tannoy with platform directions. Matthew programmed to its call slowly moves; fist still clenched, and heads into the train anticipating another rocking train slowly wooing him to stay into routine.

As Matthew sits down preparing himself for the train's hypnotic rock, a familiar face sits down in front of him. Matthew crosses his arms and prepares himself for another unwanted conversation and fake niceness to someone he probably won't see again for years if ever again.

"Alright mate."

"Bloody hell Steve, how are you?"

"Not bad. It's been a while." Declared a neat suited and pink tied Steve.

"School wasn't it? Jesus has it been seven years!"

"Wow that is a time and a half! What are you doing now?"

"Working in PR, nothing glamorous."

"Not bad. Good money?"

"I wish I could say yes. What are you up to?"

"Insurance manager. Been there for five years. Never bothered with uni. All that studying not for me. All that reading and you never really learn anything."

"Fair enough. So with anyone?"

"Nah. Just split up with my bird about a month ago. There is this Canadian girl though."

"Canadian? Must say I'm a fan of the Canuck lady. " announces Matthew.

"Going over to Toronto soon. Hopefully will be able to travel with work soon. You?"

"Just started dating someone. She is lovely."

"Sounds good. Still playing football?"

The question Matthew didn't want to answer was casually unleashed.

"Not really. Can't stand the people involved."

"Oh I won't tell my Dad he'll say" Steve puts on a fake Dutch accent, "what a waste".

"Things happen I suppose." Matthew says trying to brush aside the topic.

The train comes to a halt.

"This is funny looking at what people do walking along the station knowing people are watching."

They both look and snigger at various people playing with their phones or fiddling with their suits as they begin accelerating into their "get to work" walk. The train starts up and both grab a paper knowing they will struggle for more conversation. Matthew attempts to do a crossword and can only get one or two as he keeps thinking of the 'waste of talent' comment. The train pulls into the next station and Matthew snaps out of his daze.

"Cheers mate it has been a pleasure." He says before slowly milling out of the train still thinking about the football comment and expecting another awful day at work. Before finally getting off the train he smacks his fist against the train side as he begins to let out some of his frustration regarding his past and other's expectations.