The Midnight Train to Nowhere

The ticket didn't have a destination printed on it, just a time: 11:59 PM. I stood on the platform, the autumn chill biting through my coat, clutching the small piece of cardboard like a lifeline.

When the train arrived, it made no sound. No screeching brakes, no whistle. It just glided into the station, its windows glowing with a warm, amber light.

I stepped aboard, leaving everything I knew behind. The conductor tipped his hat. "Welcome," he said. "We've been waiting for you."