Chapter 17 Cold ghost whistles, no one is there Silence And the moon sighs Over a train bound for nowhere     Lunch was tasty, but then again anything would be.  As the morning grew long and she grew weary, the need for gastronomical satisfaction grew as well. It was that time, and it would not be long before two people who had come to know each other intimately would have to part.  “Hey, sweetie, I have to really get moving towards the terminal, I am not sure when the next ride out of Indy is if I don’t catch this one.”  How she had hoped that he would just say, “don’t go, stay, stay with me, let me take care of you.” But he didn’t, he just said, “okay, but let’s walk through the circle first. Have you ever been?” “No, I haven’t, this is really my first time in Indianapolis. Are you sure we have time?” “We do have time, come on I promise I will get you there in time.” Her heart sank.  "Did he have to say it so matter of fact? " As they walked towards the east to the circle, she was impressed by the friendly pace of the town.  It was so different from Chicago.  She still liked Chicago better.  She began to feel sad over leaving Indy, and going back to a place where there was no one waiting for her, no job, no future, just an empty garden apartment that had become home.  It had been an adventure. She had met so many people.  Some of them truly kind, some of them even claimed to have fallen in love with her. She would have loved to have tried to let one or more into her heart, but, there just wasn’t a place. She was still so deeply in love with him.  Was she truly in love with him, or the idea of being in love? It didn’t really matter as the outcome was the same.  No one else was getting in. She wondered why of all the contacts that she had made in Chicago, why none of them were panning our so that she could stay there, not be tempted by a fantasy of a relationship. He grabbed her hand, his hand was so large, her hand just was swallowed up in his massive fingers.  She always felt so safe when her hand was in his. It just fit so well.  “Ooh, your little fingers are perfect in mine,” he said as he swung their arms forward and back.  He stopped, and spun her toward him. He kissed her and smiled.  Their eyes met, she saw it, saw her life in his eyes. Her heart felt both warmth and fear.  Fear for over losing him, and fear over winning him. Fear over being confused by the sudden attention. Was he being swept up in the moment? Or is he reacting as a young boy would when he was developing a crush? Whatever it was she was not fully able to trust it.  Something, something just doesn’t feel right. She accepted the kiss and leaned her head on his shoulder, anything that would keep her connected to him for just a little while longer. They climbed into the truck. “How far do we have drive?” she said as she tried to hide her nervous shakes. “It is about two blocks away. I promise, I will get your there.” They were both silent as they drove around the circle one last time. He pulled into a spot very close to the entrance.  She opened the door, and began to climb out. “Wait, let me help you.” “Help me with what, I am fine.  You don’t have to come in with me, I will be okay.”  She just wanted to cry, to turn back, to erase all the mistakes that were made over the past year and two months. “No, I want to take you in, I want to spend every single minute that I can with you.” His voice broke. He helped her out of the truck, and walked her in, holding the door, placing one hand on the small of her bag. She purchased her ticket.  She was silent, he was silent. An announcement was made. “The bus is now boarding for Chicago, proceed to gate 12.” Her heart began beating wildly, she could hardly breath for fighting back a sob. All she could do was to turn to him and bury her face in the area just below his chin. “No!” She cried, she did not want that to happen.  “I am okay, I’m sorry, I didn’t want to do this.” “Come on, let’s go, I will stay with you until you drive away.” He was trying to comfort her, but nothing was working.  She knew, she just knew. They walked out the door and into the bright July sunshine.  The bus door opened beckoning her to climb on board.  She wanted to run on board, to just get it over with.  “Stop, sit with me for just one more minute.”  He was pleading with her to stay, to just remain.  The tears began to fill in his eyes and spill over.  He could not control them anymore.  A year’s worth of tears were flooding his cheeks.  She kissed his head, then his cheek, then…he stopped her. “I love you, I will always love you.” He held her face in his hands.  “I do love you, there is no one else like you.  You are you!  “Do not be sad, a heavy heart is not a bad thing.  It is proof, we lived.” He just cried. She could not speak. “Lady, you comin’?” the bus driver said abruptly, he was ready to go. “Yes, I am.” she stated softly She climbed on the bus and looked around at the other riders to see who her comrades were.  She wondered if they were coming or going.  Maybe they were running away too. The bus pulled away. He stayed in the parking lot until he saw her leave. Her phone signaled that she had a text message. It said, “I love you.” She texted him back, “I love you too.”   Three hours later a feeling came over her, a deep seated pit in her stomach, she sent him another text, it said, “where are you?”  There was no reply.  There was no one ~ nowhere.   Cold ghost whistles, no one is there Silence And the moon sighs Over a train bound for nowhere