I decided to take a seat furthest away from the entrance. I was reminded of how much I used to enjoy corners and shadows because they provided a refuge from the prying eyes of people who spoke to me as if I wasn't present in the room.

I began to consider whether this might be a dream or the result of sleep deprivation, but the thought quickly faded as I gazed out the uncovered space and caught sight of a mountain in the distance.

I realized that the mountain had seemingly appeared out of nowhere, and as I looked closer, I could discern a stream flowing down its side. A flock of birds flew across the sky, and it struck me that I had never seen such a sight in the city.

Was it because I never had time to look up at the sky?

I had no idea where I was, but I was fascinated.

"I wouldn't lean forward too much," a voice said.

Despite the mysterious quality the voice possessed, it also sounded so child-like. 

I turned back to see a tall lanky boy. He wore long sleeves and it looked like he had just woken up.

"Good morning," he greeted me with a sleepy smile.

I noticed that his sleeves and pants were actually mismatched pajamas.I remembered wearing mismatched pajamas when I was a kid, and the boy stumbled forward, sitting down across from me.

"I am Innocence," he introduced himself.

His eyebrows were unkempt, and although he was tall, his mannerisms resembled those of a child.

"I am the youngest of the crew," he told me, his eyes going to the world beyond the train window. "and I am your once upon a time."

'My once upon a time?', I thought.

Despite my puzzlement, I felt myself relax, leaning back against the seat. When he did not speak, I noticed that he had been staring out the window with his legs bouncing up and down to the rhythm of the train.

"Do you like farms, Miss?" he asked suddenly.

I nodded. I loved farms. That way of life seemed so simple.

No corporate deadlines, no hassles of the outside world.

Could I live on one, though? Not really.

"I can't either. I'm scared of cows."

I was taken aback by his words, but Innocence broke into a smile.

"Are you scared of cows, Miss?" he asked.

Used to. Not anymore, I thought to myself, and he nodded.

"That's good," he voiced. "Then you can play with them now."

"Can you hear my thoughts?" I finally asked, even though I knew the answer. "What is this place? Where are we going?"

Innocence's eyes had turned into crescent moons.

"It's not a place, Miss. It's a journey," he whispered. "I am the embodiment of what you once were. The fears you once had, the places you once dreamt of heading towards."

"If you are my innocence, do you know all that?" I asked. Innocence nodded in response to my question.

"You were void of thought, Miss. Void of pain. That was what you once were. All children are that way, do you not agree? How many days have you spent worrying about what tomorrow might bring?" Innocence asked, pointing out of the window. "Look, a lake!"

Even with the distance, I could see a picturesque view. Butterflies were fluttering amongst the tall grass bordering the body of water.

"You used to like lakes," he stated, and I nodded in agreement. "What happened?"

"My husband does not like lakes," I replied.

"But you do," he reasoned, and I nodded.

I do, I thought.

"Wouldn't it be nice to dip your feet in the water and try to save snails from drowning?"

I laughed at his words and said, "That took a turn."

He had a gummy smile that stretched so wide I thought his cheeks would rip. I couldn't help but lean forward and pinch his soft flesh.

"Why are you so adorable?" I asked, and Innocence tilted his head to press his cheek against my hand. "I used to ask very similar questions when I was younger."

I was once a curious child. Always in awe about the simple wonders of the world.

"I never left, Miss," he replied, tapping on the watch on my wrist. "Even when you pushed me away. I was always around. None of us ever leave. We just change into what you wanted us to be."

'None of us?" I echoed.

His smile faded, and his hand dropped to intertwine his fingers with mine. He ignored my question, a flitter of sadness on his features.

"Each time I tried to reason with you like a child, you blocked me out with voices of logic and reason," he sighed, his lips turning downward.

He continued to speak, sounding wiser than anyone I've ever spoken to before.

"It's difficult to prevent the world from changing you because it's impossible. Every one changes to survive. But it's not impossible to keep your innocence in your pocket so you can visit it when you need it."

There was a spark in Innocence's eyes as he beamed at me.

"When we are children, we are nameless and blameless," he said. "More often than not, we point fingers at other people rather than ourselves. We are ignorant and ruled by emotion rather than logic."

The scenery began to change, and the mountains disappeared behind me.

The landscape turned into barren land, and Innocence perked up. The colors around me became a yellow glow.

"It is my time to leave, Miss," he chirped. "Protect the personyou once were. It is the only way to stay true to yourself."

With a bow, Innocence bid his goodbye and exited the train, leaving me pondering his last words.