As the train started to pull out of the station she looked up for the first time since she had heard the voice in the speaker announce that they were leaving Stockholm. Looking out the window she saw the station slowly drifting away. For the first time she started to notice to people around her in the crowded compartment. People of all ages, families with crying children, youths exited about their first trip, and exhausted travelers dragging their heavy luggage through the slender walkway excusing themselves with a tired smile when they bumped in to someone. How far had they gotten by now anyway? As more people came through, carrying their suitcases and backpacks looking for a seat she started to pick up the papers she had spread out around her. Dozens of sketches and a number of shriveled up papers with ideas she had thrown out covered the little table in front of her. As if waking up from a trance, she yawned and stretched. How long had she been caught in her work? Her stomach was beginning to remind her that it had been a while since she ate too. Time to go see if she could find the restaurant cart.

She gathered the last of her things and picked up her bag, it was mostly filled with her art supplies. How did she end up bringing so much? As she started making her way to the restaurant cart she could hear bits and pieces of conversations in different languages going on all around her. A fraction of an argument in German, A group of friends talking loudly in French, and a couple talking in Spanish. Suddenly the thought crossed her mind: This was actually happening! She was leaving her normal boring life for a while to go on this adventure to Europe! Ireland... A smile crossed her face involuntarily. The man going the opposite direction from her flashed a flirtatious smile back at her, and she hurried on furiously blushing. This adventure made her feel like fifteen again.

She had a hard time finding a seat in the restaurant cart. She must have looked lost and miserable, because an old lady and her husband took pity on her and asked if she would like to sit in the empty seat at their table. She gratefully accepted and sat down with her cup of coffee and sandwich. The lady smiled sweetly at her and asked her in broken English where she was from and where she was going. For some reason she started telling these complete strangers the whole story; about her painting, Andreas, Achill....everything. They listened with rapt attention and honest concern and in return they told her about their lives together, their long journeys through Europe, their children and grandchildren. They were from a small town in Greece, but since their children had grown up and moved out, they had decided to take a long journey together and relive the adventures of their youth.

Just listening to these two wonderful strangers made her open up in a way that was completely unexpected. She supposed that it was because she knew that they would get of the train within the next few stops and then she would never see them again. She felt anonymous. Just another traveler sharing a story, and leaving the train one story richer. The coffee that was left in their cups had gone cold while they were talking and her half eaten sandwich still lay on the plate in front of her when they said goodbye and left the train.