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I’ll take the long road today, he said to the pavement. He upturned his chin and marched towards the rusty tracks.

Maybe he just wanted a change of scenery, but most believe he had other intentions in mind.

His weathered rubber soles padded the auld iron, his sneakers dedicated to the railway.

Maybe he liked that the tracks were so one-way. Maybe he wanted some direction. Most believe direction was not on his mind at the time.

His school bag bounced up and down on his back at an unsteady rhythm. He kept his eyes on his feet to avoid a fumble. It was difficult to keep his feet from sliding into one of the cracks.

Maybe he just wanted to walk an obstacle course that day. Maybe he was bored of the steady road he usually took. Most believe the latter to be true.

He maintained his pace when he heard the train cry from far behind. He felt the tracks tremble and it was harder to keep his footing. He payed closer attention to his steps.

Maybe he couldn’t distinguish the train’s screech from the cars passing on the road that ran parallel to his path, making similar noises. Maybe he thought he was imagining things. Most believe he heard it loud and clear.

The train screamed closer and the tracks shook harder, shivering with expectancy. The boy kept walking, his backpack bouncing, his sneakers sneaking. The enormous procession continued behind him at seventy times his speed. He stopped and stared ahead along the railroad. It was straight, intersecting only the horizon. The tracks stopped there from his view, but he knew they went on and on. To where ... he cared not.
He turned around and saw the mighty metal snake slithering towards him, getting bigger as it approached. Sparks flew from under the wheels as they raped the steel guard-rails with the speed of bullets, aimed for his soft body.

Maybe he thought it would stop. Maybe he thought it would see him and stop. But ...

He slowly lowered his shoulders and let his school bag slip onto one arm. He cast it aside and took a step forward. His legs were shaking from the force of the trembling tracks, now quaking much harder than before. But other than that his body was still. His heart beat solemnly. His eyes blinked softly. He inhaled.
Metal and wood and skin and bones met with one intimate kiss - one painless swipe. The train wiped him away cleanly and continued its procession down the track to the horizon, where it disappeared with its new cargo.