train of thought

September 18, 2026

One night a friend of mine and I were driving down a somewhat secluded tree lined highway. There were not too many cars on the road. We rounded a bend and emerged from the trees. Up ahead we could see the red flashing lights of a train crossing. No other cars between us and the crossing. We could not see the train from the distance we were at, but when we got close enough the headlights lit it up.

We sat there somewhat mesmerized by it hurtling, rattling, and screeching by. When the end of it passed by, the lights stopped flashing, and the barrier started to go up. The sudden darkness and silence was oddly unsettling. I started to drive forward. Just as we were about to cross the tracks, I said, “wouldn't that be fucked if the very last car had become detached from the train, and it was hurtling towards us in the dark?” We both looked into the darkness where it would have been, as though my saying so was a premonition. Then kind of laughed about it. Life went on.