As the characters approach the town after a long separation, they experience a shift in their perception of time. Previously, they wished for time to pass quickly, eager to be reunited. However, with the end in sight, they find themselves wanting to slow down the moment, cherishing the anticipation as the train nears the station. Their feelings are complex, as the joy of reunion contrasts sharply with the long period of waiting they endured.

This longing for time to stretch reflects their desire for compensation for the lost moments spent apart. The joy of their reunion, they feel, deserves to last longer than the painful hours of separation. Their experience highlights the profound emotional weight of love and the fleeting nature of happiness, suggesting that the intensity of their feelings warrants a slower passage of time in this pivotal moment.