The Train to Granada

The train left Madrid at six in the morning. Half the seats were empty. Elena chose a window seat and watched the city give way to dry, open fields.

Treni iliondoka Madrid saa kumi na mbili asubuhi. Nusu ya viti vilikuwa tupu. Elena alichagua kiti karibu na dirisha na kuangalia jiji linavyopotea na kuachilia mashamba makavu na wazi.

A woman sat across from her. She was older — maybe sixty, maybe more — and she had a small bag with a sandwich wrapped in foil. Soon her phone rang. She answered quietly, but the train was very quiet too.

Mwanamke mmoja aliketi mkabala naye. Alikuwa mzee — labda miaka sitini, au zaidi — na alikuwa na mkoba mdogo wenye sandwich iliyofungwa kwa karatasi ya almini. Hivi karibuni simu yake iliita. Alijibu kwa sauti ya chini, lakini treni pia ilikuwa kimya sana.

"No, I haven't told her yet," the woman whispered. "I will, but not today. Today I just want to see her." A pause. "She doesn't know I'm sick. Please, don't tell her either."

"Hapana, bado sijamwambia," mwanamke huyo alisong'ona. "Nitamwambia, lakini si leo. Leo nataka tu kumwona." Akakawia kidogo. "Hajui kuwa mimi ni mgonjwa. Tafadhali, usimuambie pia."

Elena looked out the window and pretended not to hear. But she could not stop listening. The woman talked for a few minutes more, then hung up and ate her sandwich slowly.

Elena akaangalia nje ya dirisha na kujifanya hakusikii. Lakini hakuweza kuacha kusikiliza. Mwanamke huyo aliongea kwa dakika chache zaidi, kisha akakata simu na kula sandwich yake polepole.

When the train arrived in Granada, the woman stood up and looked at Elena. "I'm going to see my granddaughter," she said, as if explaining something Elena had already asked. "I haven't seen her in a year. Have a good trip."

Treni ilipofika Granada, mwanamke huyo akasimama na kumtazama Elena. "Naenda kumwona mjukuu wangu," alisema, kana kwamba anaelezea kitu Elena alikuwa amekwisha muuliza. "Sijamwona kwa mwaka mzima. Uwe na safari njema."

Elena watched her walk down the platform and disappear into the crowd.

Elena akamtazama akitembea kwenye jukwaa na kutoweka katika umati wa watu.