As Still As a Corpse

Zinnia woke with a delighted squeal. To Luca’s ears, there was no better sound. He saw stars in her eyes as she surveyed the winter wonderland outside their window. To his eyes, he saw bleak, dreary countryside.

She marveled as the snow blanketed the countryside. She found romance in the soft velvety roll of the now-white hills. She nearly came out of her seat when she spotted a few deer amongst the trees down by a river that peeked in and out of their view. The big deer, with a massive rack of antlers, lowered its head to drink, and Zinnia sighed. He could feel the happiness radiate from her, and he was reminded of his own inner darkness. He decided to just enjoy her happiness while the time lasted. There would be plenty of time for heartbreak later.

Something outside the window caught his attention. A blur of darkness that he wouldn’t have noticed if his eyes hadn’t been transfixed on a little maintenance building next to the track a little ways up. The train had round