solo The Train to Another World closed

Shelowyn walked hand in hand with her father. She kept staring at her ticket then back up to check the numbers. As confused as she was, she fully trusted her father. They passed platforms 1, 2, 3...weaving through the people around them. He gripped her luggage tightly while his eyes locked ahead. He had been unusually quiet. Many emotions were fleeting in his eyes, clouding them as if lost in a dream...6, 7, 8...His pace quickened. Shelowyn's hand felt crushed in his, her fingers bruised red between his white knuckles. Ow, ow, ow! Shelowyn looked up, her mouth opened to plead with her father to loosen his grip but something caught ber attention in her peripheral vision. A wall. The wall between platforms 9 and 10. Father was now running. Her footsteps stumbled, her feet tripping each other. That didn't slow him down. He simply pulled her up into his side, bowed his head forward and ran straight into the wall.

Just as suddenly he came to a stop. A breath shuttered out of him. Shelowyn felt both as if she took a great inhale and had all the air knocked out of her. It was peculiar. It made her wobbly on her feet as she was gently lowered to the ground. Her father steadied her, his eyes still looking into the distance. She followed his gaze. Her mouth dropped open, gawking at the sight before her. Platform 9 3/4. Hogwarts Express. A crimson train surrounded by what Shelowyn assumed to be fellow witches and wizards. There were so many of them. Some her age and others much older. She had so many questions and turned to ask her father them. His gaze gave her pause. He finally was looking at her. He looked so sad.

"This is it. This train will take you to Hogwarts and return you here to be picked up for the holidays...I love you so much, Shelowyn. Be good." His voice was strained wth sorrow. The realization that he missed so much of her life and was only going to miss more hit him hard. She was growing up...too fast. He clutched her into his embrace, a kiss planted on her head before pulling away.

She showed him her best smile. "I always am dad. I love you too. Keep Cassandra and Deric out of trouble will you? Or let them get in trouble as long as they spend some time outside."

Shelowyn didn't know what else to say or do. So she stepped away from her father and up to the train. She moved quickly to get on and find a quiet seat alone. She knew if she stayed, his melancholy would convince her to never leave. She didn't want to stay but she rarely saw her dad sad. She wanted him happy. Should I really be doing this? I should do what my family wants. I should make them happy...

She refused to look out the window until the train was leaving. Then she made eye contact with her father one last time. She waved. His tears were apparent as jewels. Ah...her throat closed with guilt. Tighter...tighter...tighter. Then he was gone. She gulped in air. One thought filled her head as she road in this train to another world.

I don't want to go home.