Echoes of Us

Chapter 3

“Why has the train stopped? Are we under some sort of attack?” He could hear the tremor in her voice.

“We're not under any attack; the main engine just knocked out,” he replied, trying to maintain a lighthearted demeanor. “Everything will be okay,” he added with a smile.

“Phew…” she let out a sigh of relief.

“I sincerely apologize to everyone,” the captain announced over the intercom. “One of the engines has failed, which caused that loud noise. I’m deeply sorry for the inconvenience, but we’ll rectify it as soon as possible.” The chatter among the passengers continued…

“How long do you think the repair will take?” Sofia asked, anxiety creeping back into her tone.

“It’s going to take a while,” he replied.

“Oh, gosh.” Sofia pulled out her phone and dialed her mum's number. “The signal seems poor; I can’t get through to her. I think I should go outside to find a stronger signal.”

“I’m coming with you. I’m starting to feel uncomfortable; it’s getting hot in here. I think I can see a small town down the hill from the window.”

As they stepped off the train, they saw other passengers emerging, some already descending the hill toward the nearby town. They followed the small crowd, and once they reached the town, Sofia began searching for a signal. Jamie, however, couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a guy wearing a baseball cap staring at him. As soon as their eyes met, the man quickly looked away, making Jamie feel uneasy.

“Whoa, check out that grand statue!” Sofia exclaimed, breaking the tension. “I’d love to take a picture. Can you help me?” She handed her phone to Jamie.

“Wow, these are nice,” he said, glancing at the photos already on her phone. “We should take one together.”

“I’m not really a picture person…”

Sofia pulled him close, wrapping her arm around his shoulder, extending her arm to snap a selfie.

“I think we should find something to eat,” she suggested.

“That’s a great idea. I hope this town has some good food.” Jamie glanced around but noticed the strange man had vanished.

As dusk settled in, dark clouds loomed overhead and thunder rumbled ominously. Just then, their phones buzzed with a message from the train company: they would not depart until the next day due to the bad weather.

“Oh no… this is bad news. I need to reach out to my mum to let her know I won’t be home tonight.” She dialed her mum’s number again, but the call wouldn’t go through.

Jamie kept looking back because he felt they were being followed.

“Is everything okay?” Sofia inquired when she noticed Jamie frequently glancing backward.

“I think we should get a room before it rains,” Jamie suggested.

“That’s a good idea.”

The first hotel they entered was already full. The next hotel down the street was also fully booked. Finally, they spotted a motel and rushed inside just as the rain began to drizzle.

“I hope we get a room here,” Sofia murmured.

“Please, is there a vacant room?” Jamie asked the tired-looking man behind the counter.

“Give me a minute to check… Yes, sir, but there’s just one room left,” the man replied.

“What do you think we should do?” Jamie asked.

“It’s already raining outside; I think we have no other option.”

“Alright, we’ll take it,” he told the man, feeling a mix of relief and urgency.

The man handed them the keys and directed them to their room. Upon entering, the first thing they noticed was the bed size.

“Why is the bed this small?” they exchanged amused glances and laughed.

“Alright, you can take the bed, and I’ll just sleep on the couch,” Jamie offered.

“Okay.”

The clatter of lightning and the heavy downpour made the night feel endless. Sofia struggled to sleep due to the cold. She checked her phone, realizing there was no signal, and felt a wave of concern for her mum.

“Are you awake?” she asked.

“Yes, I’m finding it hard to sleep, too.”

“It’s really cold; I think you should come join me on the bed,” she suggested. Jamie didn’t hesitate; the couch was small and uncomfortable.

He climbed onto the bed, and she moved closer to accommodate them under the duvet. Sofia placed her hand on his chest, and he wrapped his arm around her.

“Ahh, this is better,” they both smiled. Jamie loved the way she smelled; he ran his hand through her hair, caressing it gently.

“So, are you in a relationship?” Sofia asked.

“My ex died in a car crash two years ago, and since then, I haven't been able to fall in love.”

“I’m really sorry to hear that,” she replied softly.

“It’s okay; that was a long time ago. So, what about you?”

“I’ve never been in a relationship,” she confessed.

“Really?! Why is that?” he asked curiously, raising a brow.

“Well, I don’t know. I just haven’t found the right one, I guess.”

A comfortable silence enveloped the room…

Sofia could feel the calm rhythm of his heartbeat. She looked up at Jamie and kissed him on the lips. He kissed her back, and the moment quickly intensified, leading them to make love that night.

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Buzzzzzzz… Buzzzzzzz…

Sofia's phone rang. She and Jamie were still fast asleep, but the persistent ringing jolted them awake. Sleepily, she stretched out her hand and picked up the phone.

“Hello…”

“Good morning, please, is this Miss Sofia?”

“Yeah. Who's this?”

“I’m Nurse Kate from Lindo Hospital. Your mum was rushed in yesterday due to some complications with her health.” Sofia immediately sprang to her feet.