I returned to the train, my mind a whirl of thoughts.
My daughter looked up from her phone, sensing my tension.
“Everything okay?” she asked.
I nodded, though I wasn’t sure I believed it myself.
“Just some routine checks,” I lied, trying to keep my voice light.
She accepted my explanation, returning to her music.
But the atmosphere felt different now, charged with an undercurrent of fear.
The train resumed its journey, the landscape outside blurring past.
I tried to focus on the rhythm of the wheels, seeking comfort in the familiar motion.
But the conductor’s warning lingered, refusing to be silenced.
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