Jane told him that she had to go alone. She explained why, but that didn't seem to ease Tim's disappointment. She spoke her nicest words. He understood, but she could tell he stopped listening a while ago. Anytime she mentioned leaving in the faintest, a fight would erupt between them. Quickly, she learned to just avoid the topic altogether. Each day that passed by was bittersweet, especially their last.

          "I got you something." Tim says to her after pulling away from their embrace. They stood at the train station, among many others, waiting for departure. He pulls out a well worn, cloth bound hardcover book.

          "Thank you." Jane says quietly. She reads the title in her head, Anna Karenina.

          "I saw it at the bookstore the other day. I know you've been wanting to see the movie, but the books are always better." He chuckles nervously. They fall into a quick silence. Part of Jane wanted to tell him that she was sorry and that she wished he could come with her. She imagined herself pulling him onto the train; taking his hand and leading him to some private car. Her fantasies were something from a movie and she desired it to be real, but she knew that she would regret it. She'd get in trouble if they found out she brought a guest.

     The ground shook before the the train made it's long awaited appearance. Jane wasn't sure if the chill she felt down her spine was from the breeze or something else. Tim pulled her close; her arms automatically wrapped around his waist. They stayed like this for a long moment.

          "I don't want you to go" Tim whispers in her ear; his voice barely audible. She ignores the first whistle, but forces herself back into reality with the blow of the second and last one.

     She could see him still standing on the dock through her window. His eyes wander each train car, trying to peer inside. Jane waves, trying to catch his attention, but he couldn't find her. She settles in quickly and does everything in her power to ignore the book, but ultimately finds herself weak to the temptation. She pulls it out and flips open the cover. In his handwriting, she reads his message: I bought this so that, possibly, the thought of me could travel with you. A small smile creeps onto her face. She already knows that every thought she would have, would be only of him.

     After the first chapter, Jane got bored with the story and restless in general. Soon, she just starts flipping through the pages. The pencil markings were so light, she almost missed them. Eagerly, she skims back, looking for the hidden message. Page 117: How's your trip going? A simple four word question was enough to make her heart flutter. She begins to slowly flip through the rest. Page 233: Are you skipping through the book? Tsk Tsk. Go back and enjoy the story. Jane's cheeks turned a crimson red. It was as if he was there sitting in the passenger seat right next to her. She could imagine him saying those words, looking over her shoulder as she cheated. Page 410: The sun hasn't set and you're this far in the book already? Are you sure you aren't skipping? She laughs out loud, catching the attention of the old man across the aisle. She looks out the window; it was nowhere near sunset yet. Page 645: Hello again. You're more than halfway done with the book. It must not be that boring after all. Her fingers run over the page, crossing paths with his message. Page 777: I'm thinking of you. Are you thinking of me? Yes. Her heart was aching as she continued to leaf through the rest of the book. She double and triple checked each page before coming up empty. Finally giving up, she puts the book away and closes her eyes.

     The booming sound of the train whistle roused her. She looks around. The train had stopped and the car was empty. All of the window shades were drawn except for the one next to her seat. The moon hung high in the sky. She assumed that it was past midnight.

          "Ma'am," A man in uniform starts. "This is the last stop. The train won't leave again until 6am. We are in Wetumpka. Is that your stop?"

          Groggily, Jane answers. "Uh...yeah. Thank you." He helps her with her luggage before walking back down the aisle, checking the seats.

     The cab ride to the hotel and walk up to her hotel room was all a blur. The second she put her suitcase down, she collapsed onto the bed. Oddly, she couldn't fall back asleep. Her thoughts wandered back to the book.

     Her heart began to ache again. She didn't care about the time difference; she picked up the room phone. Her excitement grew with each ring, hoping that he'd pick up after each one.

          "Hello?" Tim's voice was raspy and laced with sleep.

          "Did I wake you?" Jane responded, suddenly full of pep and whimsy.

          Silence fell between them again, but only for a moment. "I missed you." He finally spoke up.

          "I missed you too."

          "Shouldn't you be asleep about now?"

          "I've slept enough already. Besides I wanted to hear your voice." She could picture his crooked smile as he listened on the other end.

          "Did you read the book?"

          "Not exactly...I kind of skipped through it." Her breathy laugh echoed through the phone. "I was too busy thinking of you to focus, if you must know." She rolled her eyes playfully. "That and the fact that the book was boring." His laughter soon matched hers.

     They continued talking well into the morning on his end and well into the night on hers. After a while, his voice lulled her back to sleep.

          "Just know that wherever you are, I'll be thinking of you. Good night." He spoke before hanging up. The line went dead, leaving the dial tone to buzz.