The Last Railroad Crossing [Weekly Short-Short Note]

In an era when all railways had gone underground, tracks disappeared from the surface, and railroad crossings had finished their service. To preserve its form in history, it was decided that one final crossing would be saved, and a "Railroad Crossing Audition" was held.

Railroad crossings gathered from all over the country to tell their respective histories.

"I was in a seaside town. I rusted many times from the sea breeze, but I stood for seventy years."

"I was on a school route where two thousand people crossed every day."

"I was even in a movie. My alarm is ringing in the background of a scene where the lead actor is crying."

The judges nodded and took notes. Every crossing looked proud.

Eventually, the last one was called. It was a small crossing on the outskirts of a regional city. The paint was peeling, and the red of the alarm had faded as if it had entrusted its color to the sunset.

"Please tell us your memories."

The judge asked. However, the crossing said nothing.

"Is there nothing impressive that happened?"

Still, there was no answer.

Instead of the silent crossing, the archived footage was played. What was shown was not any special event.

A girl with a swaying school bag. A boy returning from club activities. An elderly couple carrying shopping bags.

Someone crosses, and then someone else crosses. Just that kind of footage continued for decades.

This crossing had no story of its own. That is precisely why the stories of countless people remained.

The crossing said nothing. It was not because it did not have a life to tell. It was because it had been watching over them all along, so as not to overwrite them with its own voice.

The day of the results announcement.

The one chosen to be preserved was that nameless crossing.

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