May 25 (part 1)

You always imagine train travel will be romantic, but then it’s all crumbs and cans and women with voices like bread knives. It’s 11:11 in carriage A. The couple behind me are miserable, making me feel single and smug. He aggressively and loudly moans at her, eh? what? eh? what? seemingly mishearing or misunderstanding every word she says - she’s just trying to use her indoor voice. She stares hard at the fast-passing grass. Please get off at York. Please get off at York. Please get off at York and leave him. York arrives. The cans get off. The bread knives get off. She carries on watching the grass, beleaguered on her day out.