BURNING TRAINS
by Susan Wingate
Copyright Susan Wingate
Smashwords Version
When Ophelia Baxter pulled back from kissing me, I noticed dry wrinkles in the pale skin around her fading blue eyes. Thick cloudy corneas covered her pupils and she blinked once and turned her head down for a second before looking at me again. Her lips quivered gently as they pressed against mine. Her tongue tasted sour from the tea she'd drunk earlier.
The kiss took me by surprise. It was the first time a woman had ever kissed me and I hadn't expected it. Still, it felt strangely familiar having her breasts crushed upon mine, like sisters.
Our car had nearly gotten clipped by a racing train. The protecting armrail failed and didn't lower, warning lights didn't flash - we didn't see it coming. The exhilaration of our near-death experience sent us both for a loop. I stopped the car because my hands shook so violently it made it impossible for me to drive.
“Oh, my God. Oh, my God.” Ophelia just watched me as I repeated the phrase like a mantra. I walked in circles and tried to get my hands to settle. That's when she walked up to me and grabbed my shoulders.