A Simple Train Ride

I swiveled nervously in my seat as I waited for the California coast to pass

I watched the other people on the train and made up stories about their lives

particularly the Amish

most of the passengers appeared to be Amish

I thought about getting off in the same city as my sister

and about the massive leg cramp that would inevitably develop before that could happen

I picked up each of my books several times then put them down

too distracted to read the words

too distressed to look at the static pages

I glanced at all of the work that I brought to keep myself occupied

with even less interest than I had for the books