Lost Lady

         She packs the books she bought in her tote bag and leaves before the end of the final lecture. It has been a long day but the Writer's Conference was interesting and informative. But now it is time to go home. Looking through the window she sees that it is already dark outside and still raining. She reaches for her umbrella and hoists the tote bag firmly on her shoulder. She steps out into the cool, wet night
      The station is only a few blocks away and if she hurries she'll catch the 5.30pm train. She walks quickly but carefully aware that she could easily slip and fall. Two blocks later and nothing looks familiar. It had been daylight when she arrived that morning. Where is she? How did she get here? She should be able to see Roma street station by now. Maybe she should ask someone? But who...there are hardly any people about. A young couple comes towards her. Should she ask them? No, they are engrossed in one another and she does not want to interrupt them. A group of rowdy young men come towards her. She would never ask them, they might take advantage of her situation. She tries her best to look confident, and agile. On the inside she feels old and dithery, confused and totally vulnerable.
         She stops at the intersection and still nothing looks familiar. A man stops next to her waiting for the light to change. She asks him. "Excuse me, do you know where the station is?"
"Just keep going straight lady," he says.
A hurried thanks and she steps quickly across the road. She hears him say something but the wind takes his words and she has no time to stop and turn back to hear what he has to say. Two blocks further and she sees orange lights...King George Bus Station it says. Oh no! She wants the train station not the bus station. But at least she knows this part of town. She has been here often before but where is Central train station in relation to the bus station? Her mind just won't allow her to make any rational decisions. She asks an older couple dressed for the theatre. "Straight on," they say.
    At last she reaches Central station and hardly notices the steps in her haste. She congratulates herself for putting her train ticket in her pocket instead of having to stop and scratch in her bag. To her surprise she sees on the monitor that she has made the 5.30pm train with five minutes to spare. Slowly she walks to platform six once again congratulating herself, this time on wearing her waterproof shoes and walking all the way from Roma street station to Central station and beating the train.
    She sighs with relief as she reaches for her phone. "Hi Darling. Yes I'm on the train. See you soon. Love you too."