A French Short Story: Le train de nuit (Intermediate B1)
Le train partait à minuit et Julien n'avait presque pas dormi la nuit précédente.
The train was leaving at midnight and Julien had barely slept the night before.
Il s'installa près de la fenêtre et posa son sac à ses pieds.
He settled in near the window and put his bag at his feet.
Dehors, la pluie tombait doucement sur les rails.
Outside, the rain was falling gently on the rails.
Une femme s'assit en face de lui et sortit un vieux roman.
A woman sat down opposite him and took out an old novel.
Ils échangèrent un sourire, sans rien se dire.
They exchanged a smile, without saying a word.
Pendant huit heures, ils voyageraient ensemble à travers la France endormie.
For eight hours, they would travel together across a sleeping France.
partaitwas leaving
s'installasettled in
en face deopposite / facing
échangerto exchange
voyageraientwould travel
endormi(e)asleep, sleeping