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The train station was packed with people. Annette stood among the crowd, holding her luggage. The train was running much later than originally announced.
“What’s going on?”
“It seems like they changed to a different railroad because of construction.”
“There have been a lot of delays lately...”
“What can I do? Given the circumstances.”
People were in commotion. Occasionally, voices mixed with irritation could be heard, saying, "No matter what, it's getting worse."
After briefly looking around, Annette moved to the wall. Then, she crouched down, clutching her luggage. Her legs ached from standing for so long.
People passed by in a frenzy before her eyes. Annette raised her head, leaned against the wall, and looked up at the blue sky.
As she waited at the station for the train, the realization that she had truly left him began to dawn on her. She clutched her luggage tightly, needlessly.
She knew this was the right path, but she couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness.
There's no such thing as a perfect choice. She just made the best choice. Even though she was certain it was the best choice, she kept making assumptions that were different.
For example, could we not have endured and accepted all the pain and hurt that we had to endure just because we were together?
Couldn't we just move forward together towards that uncertain future?
Suddenly, Annette felt a movement on her leg. She checked beside her. A dog on a leash was wagging its tail and nuzzling her. The black nose moved, sniffing.
She smiled faintly and stroked the dog. The warmth that enveloped her hand almost brought tears to her eyes.
A car sped down the empty road, a vehicle that had been requisitioned. His hands clenched tightly around the steering wheel. Heiner glanced at his watch.
8:42.
The train was scheduled to arrive at 10:05 after a long delay. It was a time that could only be reached by a hair's breadth, if it ran without stopping.
No, actually, the odds of missing the deadline were higher. But he had no choice.
He had pulled himself out of the long, dark tunnel. Now it was his turn to go.
8:58.
The scenery outside quickly passed by the car window. Beyond his field of vision, the road stretched on endlessly. Towards the woman at the end of that road, he uttered words that sounded like a confession.
Annette.
Annette Rosenberg.
Now I know. Now I know. Why couldn't I let you go?
Why did you, who ruined me and I ruined you, end up remaining the most precious person to me?
Heiner pressed down firmly on the accelerator. The car accelerated even faster. The rough road caused the car's body to shake violently.
9:24.
Looking back, even the loneliness, sadness, and pain I experienced because of you had become something else to me at the end of the long road.
All the fragments of life piled up inside me are reflecting you.
I couldn't express this feeling in a single word. All these deep, distorted feelings for that woman... I couldn't even fit them into a single sentence.
Still, if there is one thing I really need to say to you.
9:47.
Heiner gritted his teeth. Finally, he blurted out a silent confession.
I love you.
I love you, despite all our pasts, despite everything I've ruined, despite our future that can no longer be moved forward.
I love you.
My love for you was not a lie. My love for you was not a lie, and my love for you was not a lie.
I wanted to love you. Without any guilt, without any flaws, just stuck in that dreamlike moment.
Actually, it's always been like that.
I found out about that fact too late.
9:56.
In the distance, he could see the Portsmouth train station. But the area around the station was so crowded with military vehicles and carriages that he couldn't go any faster.
Heiner finally pulled over to the side of the road. Pulling his hat down low, he got out and started running toward the train station. The minute hand on his wristwatch ticked to the hour.
The crowds passed by, out of sight. The world, filled with the tumult of the crowd, seemed silent. Only the sound of his own ragged breathing was clear in his ears.
Heiner entered the train station and looked around frantically. He grabbed a passing station attendant and asked him urgently.
“Where is the platform on which the 10:05 train to Launceston arrives?”
The station attendant, who seemed a little flustered, pointed in the direction with his finger.
“If you’re going to Launceston, that entrance is over there...”
"Thank you."
Heiner ran to the station without even listening to the station attendant's words. The train had already arrived at the station. The platform was bustling with people waiting to board.
10:03.
He searched through the crowd for Annette. But no matter how much he wandered, he found only unfamiliar faces. The station attendant shouted loudly.
“The train will be leaving soon! Please board!”
The crowd gradually dwindled. Heiner began to examine the faces of the people sitting by the train window, one by one. His throat was parched, almost driving him crazy.
The train made a hissing sound as if it was about to depart. He breathed heavily, walking and then running along the window.
10:05.
Only when he reached the last car of the train did his gaze catch a familiar profile. For a moment, his breathing stopped. Annette, sitting by the window, had her head bowed and her eyes downcast.
Heiner rushed over and knocked on the window. Annette, her face expressionless, turned her head absentmindedly. The next moment, her eyes widened.
Heiner?
Annette's mouth shape spoke.
She hurriedly opened the window. After a moment of shock, a voice of disbelief flowed out.
“Heiner! Why are you here...?”
“Annette, I have something to tell you.”
The train's chugging noise grew louder. Amidst the din, Heiner spoke quickly, skipping any preamble.
"The times I spent with you were the happiest and most precious of my life. Those times weren't fake. They were truly my true heart and my everything, Annette."
“...”
“Actually, I wanted to live with you forever... like that. Even when I resented and hated you, there was never a time when I didn't love you.”
Annette just stared at him with a surprised expression. The train slowly began to move away.
“Annette, I love you.”
He confessed earnestly, his breathing coming in rapid gasps.
“With all my heart.”
A loud roar of steam echoed through the air. The train moved forward. Heiner walked in that direction and spoke again.
“With all my life.”
That was love.
At the end of a long journey, I returned to the ruins and found love.
The wheels whirred and turned. The train was picking up speed. Heiner began to walk briskly along the train.
"I'm not trying to keep you from me. I just wanted to tell you that our time together, our time together, wasn't entirely a lie. That your love wasn't a lie. So..."
“...”
“I hope you don't get too sick anymore, and that you're happy. Annette, you're the most precious thing to me.”
“...”
“Thank you for loving me like this.”
His throat was sore. He tried to smile, but failed because the corners of his mouth kept trembling.
The train picked up speed. Heiner ran after her, as he had done all his life. But now, for the last time.
Heiner, through his wavering vision, took in that beautiful face again and again. They gazed at each other as if they were alone in the world.
Annette, who had been listening to him blankly, licked her lips. Her face, once stained with confusion, soon hardened into a look of determination.
“...I’ll write a letter.”
Her words were half-buried in the roar of the train's steam.
But Heiner could hear clearly. He knew what she meant. A powerful sensation ran down his spine, as if his blood was rushing back.
“Annette, to you...”
Amidst the noise, he shouted with all his might, his voice hoarse.
“I will give you victory!”
His breath was puffing out, reaching its limit. Annette reached out to him. At that moment, the train's rumbling grew louder.
Heiner tried to grab her hand, but only managed to brush her fingertips. At the same time, his legs gave out.
The train sped ahead. Her hand drifted farther and farther away. The roar of steam cut through the air between them.
The windows passed him by. Soon, she was completely out of sight. After a while, he stopped, his legs weak and running slowly.
Inside the empty platform, only a rustling sound remained, like lingering snow. Heiner staggered to his feet, staring blankly at the train as it moved away.
I love you.
A confession that was too much to convey lingered in his mouth.
I love you.
The train, which had seemed like a dot, soon disappeared without a sound. Still, Heiner couldn't leave for a long time. The sunlight illuminated the spot where he stood.
I love you.
Even the shady days were all miracles to him.
“What’s going on?”
“It seems like they changed to a different railroad because of construction.”
“There have been a lot of delays lately...”
“What can I do? Given the circumstances.”
People were in commotion. Occasionally, voices mixed with irritation could be heard, saying, "No matter what, it's getting worse."
After briefly looking around, Annette moved to the wall. Then, she crouched down, clutching her luggage. Her legs ached from standing for so long.
People passed by in a frenzy before her eyes. Annette raised her head, leaned against the wall, and looked up at the blue sky.
As she waited at the station for the train, the realization that she had truly left him began to dawn on her. She clutched her luggage tightly, needlessly.
She knew this was the right path, but she couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness.
There's no such thing as a perfect choice. She just made the best choice. Even though she was certain it was the best choice, she kept making assumptions that were different.
For example, could we not have endured and accepted all the pain and hurt that we had to endure just because we were together?
Couldn't we just move forward together towards that uncertain future?
Suddenly, Annette felt a movement on her leg. She checked beside her. A dog on a leash was wagging its tail and nuzzling her. The black nose moved, sniffing.
She smiled faintly and stroked the dog. The warmth that enveloped her hand almost brought tears to her eyes.
***
A car sped down the empty road, a vehicle that had been requisitioned. His hands clenched tightly around the steering wheel. Heiner glanced at his watch.
8:42.
The train was scheduled to arrive at 10:05 after a long delay. It was a time that could only be reached by a hair's breadth, if it ran without stopping.
No, actually, the odds of missing the deadline were higher. But he had no choice.
He had pulled himself out of the long, dark tunnel. Now it was his turn to go.
8:58.
The scenery outside quickly passed by the car window. Beyond his field of vision, the road stretched on endlessly. Towards the woman at the end of that road, he uttered words that sounded like a confession.
Annette.
Annette Rosenberg.
Now I know. Now I know. Why couldn't I let you go?
Why did you, who ruined me and I ruined you, end up remaining the most precious person to me?
Heiner pressed down firmly on the accelerator. The car accelerated even faster. The rough road caused the car's body to shake violently.
9:24.
Looking back, even the loneliness, sadness, and pain I experienced because of you had become something else to me at the end of the long road.
All the fragments of life piled up inside me are reflecting you.
I couldn't express this feeling in a single word. All these deep, distorted feelings for that woman... I couldn't even fit them into a single sentence.
Still, if there is one thing I really need to say to you.
9:47.
Heiner gritted his teeth. Finally, he blurted out a silent confession.
I love you.
I love you, despite all our pasts, despite everything I've ruined, despite our future that can no longer be moved forward.
I love you.
My love for you was not a lie. My love for you was not a lie, and my love for you was not a lie.
I wanted to love you. Without any guilt, without any flaws, just stuck in that dreamlike moment.
Actually, it's always been like that.
I found out about that fact too late.
9:56.
In the distance, he could see the Portsmouth train station. But the area around the station was so crowded with military vehicles and carriages that he couldn't go any faster.
Heiner finally pulled over to the side of the road. Pulling his hat down low, he got out and started running toward the train station. The minute hand on his wristwatch ticked to the hour.
The crowds passed by, out of sight. The world, filled with the tumult of the crowd, seemed silent. Only the sound of his own ragged breathing was clear in his ears.
Heiner entered the train station and looked around frantically. He grabbed a passing station attendant and asked him urgently.
“Where is the platform on which the 10:05 train to Launceston arrives?”
The station attendant, who seemed a little flustered, pointed in the direction with his finger.
“If you’re going to Launceston, that entrance is over there...”
"Thank you."
Heiner ran to the station without even listening to the station attendant's words. The train had already arrived at the station. The platform was bustling with people waiting to board.
10:03.
He searched through the crowd for Annette. But no matter how much he wandered, he found only unfamiliar faces. The station attendant shouted loudly.
“The train will be leaving soon! Please board!”
The crowd gradually dwindled. Heiner began to examine the faces of the people sitting by the train window, one by one. His throat was parched, almost driving him crazy.
The train made a hissing sound as if it was about to depart. He breathed heavily, walking and then running along the window.
10:05.
Only when he reached the last car of the train did his gaze catch a familiar profile. For a moment, his breathing stopped. Annette, sitting by the window, had her head bowed and her eyes downcast.
Heiner rushed over and knocked on the window. Annette, her face expressionless, turned her head absentmindedly. The next moment, her eyes widened.
Heiner?
Annette's mouth shape spoke.
She hurriedly opened the window. After a moment of shock, a voice of disbelief flowed out.
“Heiner! Why are you here...?”
“Annette, I have something to tell you.”
The train's chugging noise grew louder. Amidst the din, Heiner spoke quickly, skipping any preamble.
"The times I spent with you were the happiest and most precious of my life. Those times weren't fake. They were truly my true heart and my everything, Annette."
“...”
“Actually, I wanted to live with you forever... like that. Even when I resented and hated you, there was never a time when I didn't love you.”
Annette just stared at him with a surprised expression. The train slowly began to move away.
“Annette, I love you.”
He confessed earnestly, his breathing coming in rapid gasps.
“With all my heart.”
A loud roar of steam echoed through the air. The train moved forward. Heiner walked in that direction and spoke again.
“With all my life.”
That was love.
At the end of a long journey, I returned to the ruins and found love.
The wheels whirred and turned. The train was picking up speed. Heiner began to walk briskly along the train.
"I'm not trying to keep you from me. I just wanted to tell you that our time together, our time together, wasn't entirely a lie. That your love wasn't a lie. So..."
“...”
“I hope you don't get too sick anymore, and that you're happy. Annette, you're the most precious thing to me.”
“...”
“Thank you for loving me like this.”
His throat was sore. He tried to smile, but failed because the corners of his mouth kept trembling.
The train picked up speed. Heiner ran after her, as he had done all his life. But now, for the last time.
Heiner, through his wavering vision, took in that beautiful face again and again. They gazed at each other as if they were alone in the world.
Annette, who had been listening to him blankly, licked her lips. Her face, once stained with confusion, soon hardened into a look of determination.
“...I’ll write a letter.”
Her words were half-buried in the roar of the train's steam.
But Heiner could hear clearly. He knew what she meant. A powerful sensation ran down his spine, as if his blood was rushing back.
“Annette, to you...”
Amidst the noise, he shouted with all his might, his voice hoarse.
“I will give you victory!”
His breath was puffing out, reaching its limit. Annette reached out to him. At that moment, the train's rumbling grew louder.
Heiner tried to grab her hand, but only managed to brush her fingertips. At the same time, his legs gave out.
The train sped ahead. Her hand drifted farther and farther away. The roar of steam cut through the air between them.
The windows passed him by. Soon, she was completely out of sight. After a while, he stopped, his legs weak and running slowly.
Inside the empty platform, only a rustling sound remained, like lingering snow. Heiner staggered to his feet, staring blankly at the train as it moved away.
I love you.
A confession that was too much to convey lingered in his mouth.
I love you.
The train, which had seemed like a dot, soon disappeared without a sound. Still, Heiner couldn't leave for a long time. The sunlight illuminated the spot where he stood.
I love you.
Even the shady days were all miracles to him.
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