My Collection of Short Stories

A Ride to Remember

A/N: This is a short story I wrote for the Fancy the Fiction 2020 contest.

Word Count: 1644

"Are we almost there?" My sister, Georgiana squealed, looking eagerly out the window of the train.

I shifted in my seat and sighed. "No, haven't even been riding an hour. London is still miles away."

I put my hand on my fiancé's thigh. His chest slowly lifted up and down with his head tilted over. I hoped he would stay this way a while longer. 

"Bernadette," Georgiana's dreamy blue eyes shifted towards me, "what's it like to have a fiancé? I mean to fall in love?"

At first, my mind fogged. I found it difficult to describe falling in love with a man our father told me to marry. When I first met Ivan, he appeared charming, complimenting me on my 'exquisite beauty,' as he put it. However, just a few minutes later he made a remark about my small breast. He played it off as a joke, but it still made my skin jitter. 

"If you're lucky, you'll know when you meet him," I finally replied.

My sister leaned her head back towards the window and sighed. "Oh I can't wait to fall in love and be swept off my feet."

I raised my eyebrow. "You've seen too many plays." 

Ivan stirred next to me, his eyes fluttering open. He beamed.

"That's a sight a would gladly wake to every day for the rest of my life."

I smiled, blushing, and mumbled, "Thank you."

"Actually, I was referring to your sister."

I felt my cheeks start to burn as I turned my head away.

He playfully threw his arm around my shoulder and squeezed me in. "Oh come now, Bernie. I'm only joking. You know I enjoy a good jest." 

"Right," I gritted with a forced grin.

"It's a pity though, it won't always be like this," he rambled on, tilting his head up slightly. "For one day you'll grow old and accumulate wrinkles."

"So will you," I reminded him.

"Yes, I suppose you're right," he admitted. "But perhaps by then someone will invent some sort of cream to keep skin looking forever young. Wouldn't that be marvelous?"

"It would," I replied, though my tone lacked enthusiasm. 

I glanced over at Georgianna to see if she had any words to contribute. My sister's glazed eyes told me her mind rested up in the clouds.   

Ivan let out a huff, slamming his hands on my wooden table between our booths. "Well, I'm starved. Shouldn't they be serving dinner?"  

"I think they're on a schedule," I replied to him.

"That's unacceptable," he declared, taking a stand. "I'm hungry now. I think I'll speak to someone about this."

As he slid open the door and stepped out, I sighed, shaking my head. This ride already seemed dreadfully long and I knew we at least had a few more hours to travel. Earlier today I feared this train ride would be dull, but I never counted on feeling this irritated as well.

                                                                                                           ❧
At precisely six o'clock, the servers began distributing dinner plates to this isle of first class compartments. When they reached ours, I saw two men in a white shirt, black tie, and an apron. One carried a tray, and the other passed out our meals with a single utensil. The warmth of the chicken breast and fresh bread coated my nose.