El Último Tren
(The Last Train)
Elena trabajaba como bibliotecaria en un pueblo pequeño cerca de Salamanca.
Elena worked as a librarian in a small town near Salamanca.
Todos los viernes tomaba el tren a la ciudad para visitar a su madre.
Every Friday she took the train to the city to visit her mother.
Era una rutina tranquila.
It was a quiet routine.
Sin embargo, un viernes de octubre, algo cambio.
However, one Friday in October, something changed.
Un hombre joven se sento frente a ella y abrio un libro de poesia.
A young man sat down opposite her and opened a book of poetry.
Elena noto que era el mismo libro que ella habia leido la semana anterior.
Elena noticed that it was the same book she had read the previous week.
Disculpa, ese libro es maravilloso, dijo Elena.
Excuse me, that book is wonderful, said Elena.
El hombre levanto la mirada y sonrio.
The man looked up and smiled.
Se llamaba Marcos y era profesor de literatura.
His name was Marcos and he was a literature professor.
Hablaron durante todo el viaje sobre poesia y sobre las historias que les hacian llorar.
They talked for the entire journey about poetry and about the stories that made them cry.
Cuando el tren llego a Salamanca, Elena sintio que el tiempo habia pasado demasiado rápido.
When the train arrived in Salamanca, Elena felt that the time had passed too quickly.
Los viernes siguientes, Marcos siempre estaba en el mismo asiento.
On the following Fridays, Marcos was always in the same seat.
Hablaban de libros, de viajes y de sueños.
They talked about books, about travel and about dreams.
Elena sentia que lo conocia desde siempre, pero nunca se atrevia a pedirle su número de teléfono.
Elena felt she had known him forever, but she never dared to ask for his phone number.
Pensaba que para el solo era una compañera de viaje mas.
She thought that for him she was just another travel companion.
En primer lugar, ella queria que Marcos supiera que disfrutaba de esas conversaciones.
First of all, she wanted Marcos to know that she enjoyed those conversations.
Por lo tanto, un día le regalo un libro con una dedicatoria: Para el mejor compañero de viaje.
Therefore, one day she gave him a book with a dedication: For the best travel companion.
Marcos leyo la dedicatoria y se quedo en silencio.
Marcos read the dedication and was silent.
Elena penso que habia cometido un error.
Elena thought she had made a mistake.
Sin embargo, el saco un papel de su bolsillo y se lo dio.
However, he took a piece of paper from his pocket and gave it to her.
Era un poema que habia escrito para ella.
It was a poem he had written for her.
El titulo decia: La mujer del tren de los viernes.
The title said: The woman on the Friday train.
Elena lo leyo con el corazón acelerado.
Elena read it with her heart racing.
El poema hablaba de una mujer con ojos llenos de historias por descubrir.
The poem spoke of a woman with eyes full of stories to discover.
Es importante que sepas algo, dijo Marcos con voz suave.
It is important that you know something, said Marcos in a soft voice.
La semana que viene me voy a vivir a otra ciudad.
Next week I am going to move to another city.
Me han ofrecido un puesto en Barcelona.
They have offered me a position in Barcelona.
Elena sintio un dolor profundo en el pecho.
Elena felt a deep pain in her chest.
Habia esperado demasiado tiempo.
She had waited too long.
Queria que el se quedara, pero sabia que no podia pedirle eso.
She wanted him to stay, but she knew she could not ask him that.
El último viernes, Marcos no estaba en el tren.
On the last Friday, Marcos was not on the train.
El asiento vacio parecia enorme.
The empty seat seemed enormous.
Elena miro por la ventana y penso en todas las palabras que no habia dicho.
Elena looked out of the window and thought about all the words she had not said.
Entonces sono su teléfono.
Then her phone rang.
Era un mensaje de un número desconocido: Los mejores libros no terminan en el último capítulo.
It was a message from an unknown number: The best books don't end at the last chapter.
Estaria muy feliz si quisieras seguir leyendo conmigo.
I would be very happy if you wanted to keep reading with me.
Marcos.
Marcos.
Elena sonrio y escribio su respuesta sin dudar: Siempre he preferido las historias largas.
Elena smiled and wrote her reply without hesitating: I have always preferred long stories.
Key Vocabulary
la bibliotecaria the librarian (female)
atreverse a to dare to
la dedicatoria the dedication, the inscription
cometer un error to make a mistake (lit. to commit an error)
el puesto the position, the post (job)
desconocido/a unknown, unfamiliar
dudar to hesitate, to doubt
demasiado too much, too (excessively)