A Roll Of The Dice

When there were no leaves left on the trees, that's when she decided to leave the little village behind. She'd waited her whole life for the trees to shed their leaves, so she could pack her things and go. She put had folded her socks into her two pairs of leather shoes to save space the way her mother had taught her. She'd given away most of her dresses but had kept the blue one, just in case somebody invited her to a party whereever she was going next. She put the dice in her pocket. It was going to make all of her decisions the next week - at least. Though it was chilly and winter had begun, the sun was shining brightly so she put her sunglasses on before she left her apartment for the last time. She placed a kiss on her fingers and then placed her fingers on the door frame of her red front door before she closed it behind her. "Where are you going, dear Anna?" the local baker asked as he passed her on the street outside her apartment building. "I simply do not know. Tell your wife I said hello." Anna said and smiled and carried on walking towards the train station. The baker half yelled at her that he would and then he shook his head at peculiar Anna. Anna got to the train station and stepped up on platform number 1. She looked down at her yellow high heels. The same pair she'd worn all those years ago when she first arrived. She took the dice out of her pocket. She went over to a bench and rolled the dice on it. An even number and she'd go to platform 2 and grab the train there, whereever that was going. An odd number and she'd stay on platform 1 and go north somewhere, because trains on platform 1 always went north. She tried not to hope for platform 2, but in her heart she did. The dice landed on 3. North it was. She sighed. And then she forced herself to smile. She'd heard great things about the northern cities. About their magical winter light. The reindeer. The myths of a forgotten and hidden people. She was going to be a guest in the northern world. She heard the train in the distance and put the dice back in her pocket. Next toss would be on the train to see just how far north she should go.