Train whistle blows. People are leaving the bar.

“Time to go.”

“I don’t want to. It’s nice here.”

He sighs.

“It won’t be too unpleasant will it?”

“Of course not. Don’t you trust me?”

She doesn’t respond for a long moment.

“I’ll do it.”

He manages a thin smile.

“You look awful pretty today, you know. I’ve always liked that white dress.”

“Really?”

“Really. ‘You are fair as a star when only one is shining in the sky.’”

She grins.

“I’ll wear it every day then.”

“No. Don’t. It wouldn’t be special anymore.”

“You’re right. You always are.”

The laughter is gone.

She stands, follows him out of the bar. He walks fast.

The people swarming in front of the train are all color.

Not like the white of the sky that has been above them all day. She pauses, looks at the horizon once more. It is all color in the sunset.

She spreads her arms out, the wingspan of an albatross.

She boards the train. He is already seated in a perfect spot right where she can’t see the sky. She sits next to him. He takes her hand. Winds fingers through hers. He looks at her. Then closes his eyes, sighs.

“I’m not going to wear the white dress anymore.”

“What?”

“Nothing. Nothing. It never is.”

He leans tired against the red seat back. She copies him, but doesn’t sleep. Just stares straight ahead for the rest of the ride at nothing because it never was.