Casimir

CHAPTER 6

Xavier yawns and stretches after having had a restful sleep. As he opens his eyes, he notices the January sun trying to crack through the hole curtains. Xavier opens the curtains and it was just becoming light and could see the road below buzzing with traffic and commuters. Xavier massaged his temples grabbing some aspirin before rubbing his forehead trying to wake himself up. On the streets below Xavier's eyes locked onto the views of the street below noticing a rowdy bunch of young men singing what Xavier could not tell and reckoned they were drunk. The jet lag still had not worn off and the 9 hour time difference was telling Xavier that it was still early morning not 8 a.m. Xavier grabbed his jacket and was grateful the Station was only 5 minutes from the hotel where he was staying.

As Xavier approaches Lime Street Station, he admired the ironwork supporting the train

Station and notices people rushing and trying to get to their Offices and places of work. Xavier wished he was one of those commuters travelling to a cosy job in an Office where he could sit, drink coffee and type all day as well as having a guaranteed pay cheque rather than the unpredictability of whether the university had enough grant money to pay your salary and your research. Xavier approaches a coffee vendor and noticed that she was staring at him. Xavier asked for a black coffee. The thoughts of the previous night raced through his head as anxiety as concern welled in Xavier and the thought of seeing Devante after all this time made Xavier hesitant. Xavier downed his coffee trying to calm himself down. A tannoy overhead interrupted Xavier's thoughts "9.30 to Shrewsbury now arriving, would all passengers please make their way to the train". Xavier approaches the train stepping on board as he sits on table seat hoping for the best view and sits next to a window. An elderly woman in her early 80's sits next to Xavier. The old woman smiles at Xavier. Both sit down next to each other and both Start talking about the weather and where both of them where going. Xavier was grateful of the distraction, anything to take his mind off his meeting with Devante.