I once met a man who told me he could turn himself into a wolf and howl when the moon is full. I asked him why he does this, he answered, “Because I can!” He then asked me a question. “Do you know when we are at our most vulnerable?”

“Waiting around on a deserted platform at night for a train you'll think will never arrive.” I said.

“Jonathan, not so,” he smiled in such a relaxed way seemingly unaffected by the icy cold night. “Jonathan, it is when we are asleep.”

I must say we had introduced ourselves earlier; his name was Lucien, a Frenchman and en route to meet friends here in England. Our only reason to engage in such bizarre conversation was to pass the time on such a long train journey. Lucien had boarded with me and asked if he might join me. “This theory of yours” I mused, "our vulnerability during sleep pray continue.”

“Well,” replied Lucien, “each one of us at some time will have experienced nightmares, a time when our mind is victim to strange dreams. When night time fears begin to affect the physical body. A racing heartbeat, the rise in blood pressure and the increase in stress levels as the dream takes hold. Oh yes, Jonathan in the day to day world we may consciously control and avoid such stressful conditions. In sleep not so.”

“I probably wouldn't get to sleep,” I said pulling my coat to shield me from the icy blast. It was so cold here. I did not think station platforms like this existed anymore. Lucien pointed toward the portaloo.

“I won’t be a minute.”

It was at Lucien’s disappearance that the cold rushed in to take his place. I buried myself further into the coat. I peered around and upwards towards the station building. The windows of the station reminded me of my own windows. They looked a very similar design. Just then, it happened. What I remember is a panic, paralysing me to the seat. I was not able to move. I had no control of the fear holding back my breath. My hearing became acute to the silence after registering such a fearsome howl. A wolf’s howl. It was unearthly, unreal, petrifying and I did not know what to do in that moment. On the second howl, its subliminal tones made me realise my surroundings. Lucien’s name came to the front of my mind. My heart and breathing fuelled by fear strained my physical well-being. I looked around; looking to my right then left, right or left, for Gods sake which way!

For a moment, I lay not quite sure where I was until the fact I had suffered a nightmare brought a realisation everything was all right...

I leave you all with a quote attributed in the 1941 film The Wolf Man.

Even a man who is pure in heart and says his prayers by night may become a wolf when the wolfbane blooms and the autumn moon is bright...