The Last Train to Porto

Nina looked at the departure board and felt her stomach tighten. The last train to Porto had left four minutes earlier, and the next one would not run until morning. She had a job interview at nine, a hotel room she could no longer reach, and a phone with a battery at two percent.

Nina looked at the departure board and felt her stomach tighten. The last train to Porto had left four minutes earlier, and the next one would not run until morning. She had a job interview at nine, a hotel room she could no longer reach, and a phone with a battery at two percent.

"Missed it too?" said a voice behind her. A tall man in a grey coat was holding two cups of coffee. He offered her one. "They’ve just announced that a tree fell across the line. Nothing will move tonight."

"Missed it too?" said a voice behind her. A tall man in a grey coat was holding two cups of coffee. He offered her one. "They’ve just announced that a tree fell across the line. Nothing will move tonight."

Nina hesitated, then accepted the cup. His name was Tomas, and he was a violin maker travelling to a small workshop near the coast, where he repaired old instruments. They sat on a bench and talked while the station slowly emptied. He told her that wood changes with the weather, and that a good violin is never really finished. She told him about the interview, and how she had spent three weeks preparing answers she now doubted she could remember.

Nina hesitated, then accepted the cup. His name was Tomas, and he was a violin maker travelling to a small workshop near the coast, where he repaired old instruments. They sat on a bench and talked while the station slowly emptied. He told her that wood changes with the weather, and that a good violin is never really finished. She told him about the interview, and how she had spent three weeks preparing answers she now doubted she could remember.

Around midnight, an announcement reported that a replacement bus would leave from the car park outside. The journey would take six hours, but it would reach Porto before dawn. Nina felt relieved until she realised that the bus would be crowded and uncomfortable, and that she would arrive looking exhausted.

Around midnight, an announcement reported that a replacement bus would leave from the car park outside. The journey would take six hours, but it would reach Porto before dawn. Nina felt relieved until she realised that the bus would be crowded and uncomfortable, and that she would arrive looking exhausted.

"Look at it differently," Tomas said. "You have six hours with nothing to do except rest. Nobody can expect you to be perfect after a night like this." He lent her his charger, and she sent a message to the company explaining the situation. To her surprise, a reply arrived within minutes. The manager wrote that she had once spent a night in a station herself, and that the interview could start at ten instead.

"Look at it differently," Tomas said. "You have six hours with nothing to do except rest. Nobody can expect you to be perfect after a night like this." He lent her his charger, and she sent a message to the company explaining the situation. To her surprise, a reply arrived within minutes. The manager wrote that she had once spent a night in a station herself, and that the interview could start at ten instead.

On the bus, Nina slept better than she had expected. When she woke, the sky over the river was turning pink, and Tomas was gone. He had left a note on the seat beside her: "Good luck. Remember, nothing is ever finished."

On the bus, Nina slept better than she had expected. When she woke, the sky over the river was turning pink, and Tomas was gone. He had left a note on the seat beside her: "Good luck. Remember, nothing is ever finished."

The interview went well, although she never knew whether it was because of her answers or because the manager liked her calm attitude after such a difficult night. Two weeks later she accepted the job. Before her first day, she visited a small workshop near the coast, but Tomas was away. She left a card on the table with only three words: "Thank you. Nina."

The interview went well, although she never knew whether it was because of her answers or because the manager liked her calm attitude after such a difficult night. Two weeks later she accepted the job. Before her first day, she visited a small workshop near the coast, but Tomas was away. She left a card on the table with only three words: "Thank you. Nina."