In TEXT 1, John Banville recalls seeing, "blear-eyed passengers off the overnight ferry from Fishguard in Wales" as he waited at the railway station - Leaving Cert English - Question 3 - 2021

As the early morning light began to filter through the grand but worn-out arches of the railway station, the air was thick with the scent of wet pavement and coffee from the nearby café. The hustle and bustle of the passengers creating a world of their own, yet amid this ordinary chaos, an extraordinary figure emerged from the shadows.

He stepped off the ferry, his eyes still adjusting to the intensity of the world outside. Wrapped tightly in a faded, oversized coat, the man seemed lost, his face worked by worry and urgency. His disheveled hair fluttered in the gentle breeze, and the old leather suitcase he carried appeared much heavier than its weight.

Onlookers glanced momentarily, some judging, others simply curious. Among them was a young woman named Clara, who, intrigued by the man's distressed demeanor, decided to follow him.

The station was the hub of lives intersecting. As the minutes ticked by, Clara observed the man pace back and forth, anxiously checking his watch and mumbling to himself. A surge of compassion washed over her, pushing her to step closer.

“Excuse me,” she ventured, her voice soft yet steady. “Are you alright?”

He looked up, surprised, as if he hadn't noticed someone else was there. His eyes, filled with desperation, held a story that yearned to be told. “I’m searching for my sister. She was meant to meet me here after her work.” His voice trembled, infused with anxiety.

Clara felt a wave of empathy wash over her; she remembered the times she had felt lost and alone. “Let’s look together,” she proposed, making an effort to reassure him.

With that, they began to wander the crowded station, searching every face and scanning the busy platform. The clock continued its relentless march, stealing time from their hopes.

Then, amidst the frantic energies of travelers, they spotted a figure waving frantically at them. It was a woman, her face shining with relief as she rushed toward the distressed man. Time slowed for a split second before the two embraced, their reunion pulsing with emotion.

Clara stepped back, observing the scene unfold. In that moment, the station transformed from a mere backdrop of concrete and steel into a sanctuary, a place of connection and warmth amidst the fleeting encounters of life.

As Clara turned to leave, a sense of fulfillment filled her heart. The stranger once lost in his worries had rediscovered his world, and she had played a role in that story, however briefly. The railway station, with its ghosts of travelers, whispered secrets of joy and sorrow, a reminder that every journey is interwoven with the tapestry of humanity.