Sway With The Wind

Chapter 16 - On the Train to Destiny

Their journey unfolded in a dense veil of silence, each heartbeat echoing louder than any words spoken. The weight of Pip's revelation hung heavy in the air, casting a somber shadow over their shared space. Lost in the tumult of their thoughts, they grappled with the gravity of the news about his fractured family.

Pip had painted vivid pictures in his mind of their encounter, envisioning myriad scenarios of their journey together. But reality, as it often does, veered sharply from his imaginings. Now, amidst the quiet of the train carriage, he found himself wrestling with a single desire: for El to perceive him in a light untainted by the darkness of his familial discord.

Summoning his courage, he broke the oppressive silence, his voice trembling slightly with emotion. "I didn't share my story seeking your sympathy," he began, each word weighed down by the burden of his truth. "I simply want you to understand that I am not defined by the actions of my so-called family. I don't usually treat others as I do them. My concern now is for your well-being. I fear they may bring trouble upon you in an attempt to gain my attention."

El's response was sharp, cutting through the air like a knife. "Why were you worried?" she retorted, her tone laced with a mixture of defiance and distance. "We are not that close for you to worry about my safety."

The words hung between them like a heavy fog, obscuring the fragile bridge that had begun to form between their hearts. El's attempt to draw a line between them was palpable, her desire to maintain distance evident in the crispness of her voice. Yet beneath her facade of detachment, Pip sensed a flicker of curiosity, a hint of confusion that mirrored his own.

He searched her face for answers, his heart aching with the weight of their unspoken truths. For all his desire to be seen in a different light, Pip knew that he could not erase the scars of his past or the shadows they cast upon their present. But still, he hoped—for understanding, for forgiveness, for a chance to bridge the divide that separated them.

"Now that we're being honest," El began, her voice tinged with a mixture of frustration and determination, "I have to say this too. I never wanted to get close to you or your family, so you don't have to worry about me. Based on what you said, I can understand why you were cold to me and kept your distance before, but that doesn't explain your recent behaviour. I couldn't understand why you'd go to such lengths."

Pip listened to El's words, letting them sink in before responding. After a moment of thoughtful consideration, he replied, "Why don't you try?"

El furrowed her brow, puzzled by his suggestion. "What do I have to try?" she asked, her tone laced with skepticism.

"Try to understand me," Pip urged, his voice gentle yet filled with quiet confidence. "Then you will see the real me."

"Why should I?" El retorted, her defences still firmly in place.

Pip chuckled softly, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. "Because I want you to know me, just as I am interested in knowing you."

El felt a rush of confusion and disbelief wash over her at Pip's unexpected declaration. 'Interested in knowing me? Pip? Is he interested in me?' Her mind raced, struggling to make sense of his words. She replayed them over and over, dissecting each syllable in search of their true meaning.

Could it be possible? Could Pip, the enigmatic and distant figure she had encountered numerous times, actually harbor an interest in getting to know her? The thought seemed ludicrous, almost absurd. Yet, there was an undeniable spark of hope flickering within her heart, a glimmer of possibility that dared to challenge her skepticism.

As she mulled over his words, El found herself lost in a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. Part of her wanted to dismiss his statement as nothing more than a passing remark, a flimsy attempt to salvage their strained interaction. Yet, another part of her couldn't help but entertain the notion that perhaps, just perhaps, there was more to Pip than met the eye.