JUST ONE THING : The Wanderer

Prompt: "Wander"

A rush of coolness accompanied Jared as the platform door swung open. Several pushed past with wrinkles on their brow. Each jockeyed for position. Jared stepped back to allow them access to board first.

Comfortably settled on the next-to-last row seat, he opened his case. First things first. He plugged in his earpieces and allowed "Stand By Me" and "Bridge Over Troubled Water" to flow uninterrupted.

His casual shirt was neat. His loafers were semi-new. His lunch was edible. His briefcase was neat. A heart-shaped chocolate, peanut cluster snack lay inside. Jocelyn made sure of that.

He leaned back. Tears trickled down his cheek. Hopefully no one noticed as the circular motion across his face camouflaged his misery. The back of the seat suffered several bangs from his head. This didn't help.

He tried to focus; however, his thoughts were still twisted into a massive knot that served to intensify the nagging headache threatening to surface. He gave up and looked outside the window, absently noticing the view. The same as days past. He opened his work scheduler.

If only, he thought.

Responsibility. At nineteen, he didn't ask for that. However, unplanned actions resulted in unplanned consequences. He squeezed his eyelids tightly to block out his dad's words.

If only. But his college friends convinced him otherwise. Try the "pull-out" method. Euphoric. Less cumbersome. Anyway, who had time to apply gadgets! Also a bit irritated that his otherwise common-sense girlfriend didn't object. So why now shoulder this responsibility entirely.

Hindsight is, as his dad would say...

Jared could still hear his friends laughing. The fact he fell for their advice was cracking them up. That hurt!

But the most damming voice that hurt was Jocelyn.

"Don't blame this all on me! Yes, I should have used my head. Just like you should have. And the reality of it is we both found out it's all hype. But, what's done is done. We can't go back. Moving forward with what we know is the only solution."

Jocelyn was looking to me for the solution, he thought. Not only did I not have a solution, I didn't have a backup plan.

The train wheels grinding against the side of the tracks overshadowed the melodious beat. Jared removed his earplugs.

The conductor announced their arrival. Several passengers immediately left the train. The porters handed them their luggage. Others would continue on to their destination.

Numerous passengers whispered among themselves as they'd watched for two weeks this young man stare beyond but halt at the city's edge. He seemed to be at a crossroad, not knowing whether to move forward and hesitant to return.

The conductor signaled the next stop. Jared indicated he wouldn't be crossing the state line.

Startled by a tap on the shoulder, an elderly gentlemen leaned over and placed a card on his briefcase. That night, Jared lay the card on their dresser. It had only been six month, so he still felt peculiar living with another woman other than his mom.

The next day, Jared boarded the train. He'd need to grow up, step up, and keep going straight instead of floundering, he thought. But he didn't know how to get off this ride of uncertainty. Was he was capable of handling responsibility, he wondered.

Fifteen minutes after boarding, Jared felt a light breath on his collar. Turning slowly, he glanced up to see Jocelyn's hand extended. An appointment to a family counseling and financial session was indicated on the card he'd left. The other hand held a tiny human whose facial features resembled his.

Silently, he rose and pulled her close.

His heart raced. His mind cleared. His destination certain. His future with Josie cemented.

It was time to get off the teenage pity party train. Next month, he'd be twenty. It was time to step onto the adult platform. It was time to return home and pack.

Relocating to another state. An opportunity to continue college. A new wife and baby depending upon him. And his parents willing to support. All were waiting.

"Whew!" Another passenger shouted and jumped up to congratulate him.

Jared finally would be leaving the train.