Ticket No. 29

This was her 29th concert, the 29th time she got to see her favorite band live.

She looked happily at the tickets in her hand and sighed as she leaned back into her seat. The first time she ever saw the band was some 10 years ago, when she saw them open for some other, more popular group. She fell in love with them after their first song, and after that, she always went to their live performances whenever she should.

As she looked outside the window, the rolling scenery unveiled itself as the train lurched forward. She was excited about this particular concert, since she was traveling to the band’s own hometown. It was a good 2 hours away from where she lived, but she figured that it was worth every minute.

She happily placed the tickets (of course she bought both tickets for their two-night performance) back into her purse and brought her phone out. One of her favorite songs of theirs started playing through her earphones, and she closed her eyes as she hummed along. She had been listening to her fave band all day after all, to get into the mood of seeing them play.

Just then, there was a movement along the aisle, a hovering shadow pulled at her purse. Before knowing it, she realized that a running man in black held her bag in his arms.

She froze, not knowing what to do. Her tickets for the concerts were in that bag (not to mention her wallet and keys). She got up to try and catch the man, but he was quickly apprehended by a group a couple of seats in front of her. The tall man blocked the thief’s exit, and the others were calling security.

What shocked her the most was the familiarity in the tall man’s features, almost as if she knew them well, too well. When the song ended and a new one began, she looked at the phone she still had in her hands and realized with a shock that the tall man was, in fact, her favorite band’s main vocalist.

Her heart leapt, and she smiled despite herself. A security officer soon came from the door behind her and accosted the robber, who quickly let go of her purse. The singer caught it and walked to her.

“This is yours, I believe,” he said, as he handed her the bag. “I hope you’re okay.”

Her mouth was dry, but her eyes shone with happy tears. She accepted the bag he held out to her and finally managed to croak a “Thank you so much.”

He grinned and waved as he turned to rejoin his companions.

She fell into her chair, still not believing her luck. She upped the volume and closed her eyes.

–
Image source: deviantart.com/estruda/art/Tickets-Please-353705526
First written April 19, 2019.
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