The Red String on the Train

Lena is on a night train from Vienna to Venice.

She cannot sleep, so she goes to the dining car for tea.

An old man sits across from her, and he smiles.

He wears a red string on his wrist, which looks very old.

Lena asks him why he wears it.

He says it is from a temple in Japan, and it brings good luck.

She tells him she is going to meet her pen friend in Italy.

The old man says, "In my country, we say a red string connects people who will meet." Lena laughs and touches her own bracelet.

In the morning, she arrives in Venice and sees her friend waiting.

Her friend wears the same red string.