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(2) A Punctual Train Journey
Monday, 5:30 a.m. My alarm went off, and since I had been awake for a while already, I jumped straight out of bed. I opened the blinds slightly and was greeted by the familiar dreary rainy weather. But today, it didn’t bother me, after all, it would be the last time for a while. And Luna was my sunshine anyway.

After a warm shower, I put on the clothes I had laid out, grabbed my suitcase in the hallway, and headed to the nearest bus stop without eating breakfast. When I arrived at the train station, I bought a roll topped with cheese, tomatoes, and a bit of salad and ate it standing up, taking my time.

As soon as I finished, the train to Ulm pulled into platform 3. From there, I would take the ICE to Frankfurt Airport. I boarded the second-class carriage and just managed to snag a window seat facing the direction of travel. I still had a good two hours of travel time ahead of me. To pass the time, I had installed two language-learning apps on my phone. Maybe I could surprise Luna with a few Portuguese phrases. Or maybe I’d be too nervous and wouldn’t be able to get a single word out. For now, I just needed to arrive on time.

In Stuttgart, an older lady with a striking purple coat and curly hair got on and sat across from me. I offered to switch seats so she wouldn’t have to ride backward. But she politely declined, saying she’d be getting off at the next stop in Mannheim anyway. Her eyes fell on my suitcase under the seat. She asked me where I was headed and if I was traveling alone. When I explained, she narrowed her eyes slightly and asked, “It’s about a girl, isn’t it?” I hesitated for a moment, then smiled and nodded. How did she know?