*Sasha*

Steam rolled past my waist from the resting train engine as I stepped down onto the platform… if it could be called that. “Platform” seemed a bit grand a word for the wooden, rustic landing at the side of the tracks.

I’d never been this far to the edge of the capital in the north country. There was a barrier ahead of the train here, which made me realize the train would now have to back up and turn around. This was the very ...