(romantic story)

Irina stood on the platform, waiting for the train to Kyiv. She always loved the morning silence of a small station: fresh air, the smell of the earth after rain, soft light pouring from behind the horizon. Today, her mood was a little depressed – after a hard week at work, she just wanted to go home and forget about everything. So, when the first train approached, she did not even look at the clock, realizing that she would still have time. Right there…

A guy in a neon jacket and with a backpack over his shoulder, was walking in her direction. His eyes immediately stopped at her, and without hesitation, he slowly approached.
“Hi,” he said, as if it were an absolutely familiar way for him to start the day.
Irina looked up and met his eyes – they were incredibly dark, almost black, like the night sky without stars. She could feel her heart taking a little leap. As if time had stopped.

“Hello?” she replied, trying to look calm, although inside everything turned upside down.
The boy smiled. “I’ve been watching you for about ten minutes,” he admitted, without taking his eyes off.

“Sorry, but you look like… like you’re not from this station. ”
Irina laughed, surprised and slightly embarrassed. She was not used to such direct statements.

“Actually, I’m from here. I just don’t come here very often. ” He nodded. “And I’m not from this city, but every time I drive through this area, I stop for a few minutes to see everything around. Something special here. Sad and beautiful at the same time, right? ”

Irina felt her heart beating a little faster. Her gaze involuntarily lingered on his rare smile – barely noticeable, but so warm that she became cozy in the shower.

“Maybe it’s because the station is small. There are no crowded people here, no fuss, and everyone seems to be part of something bigger, “she said, trying to take a step back.

“Yes, perhaps. You know, I came here for something important. But now I hear that, for me, it has become more like meeting someone… casual but wonderful. ”

“And for you, is it… an ordinary place? ” he asked, turning to her glance, in which the irony was read.

“Yes,” she smiled, and inside she blossomed. “But sometimes I see it as more than just a platform. For example, today I realized that I don’t want to leave this place and I want to talk to you more. ”

These words sounded unusual to her. She’s never been so direct with strangers, but somehow this guy made her say what she actually felt.

“I want it too,” he replied, and there was a certain note of curiosity in his voice that Irina was even more surprised. “My name is Artem.”

“Irina,” she smiled.

Between them again formed a pause, but now she was not so uncomfortable. It was a moment when two strangers discovered they could actually find more than just casual companionship.

“Maybe we could have a coffee?” He asked. “There’s a nice coffee shop nearby.”

Irina looked at the clock, then at the train, which was already approaching. She had a few minutes before departure. She had a choice: get on the train and continue her normal journey, or stay here and feel something that was not yet in her life.

“Yeah, I would love to,” she said after hearing her heart jump. Irina postponed the ticket and took a step towards it.

It was a meeting that changed everything…