the protagonist meets a girl he doesn't truly love
they have sex off a canal path, but it is presented as undignified and unromantic
the protagonist meets a friend who one gets the feeling doesn't really understand him in a bar, who tells him he should propose
the protagonist is initially skeptical; the friend replies "i think that's what life is - meet a girl, marry her, knock out a couple kids" or something to that effect
the protagonist buys an expensive ring from a jeweler who advertises it as being cool to the touch
(the book adopts a positive or hopeful tone)
however, when he goes to propose (by the canal?) he is rejected. he realises the ring was never cool to the touch. frustrated, he throws the ring in the river
i think there was some (recurring?) imagery of a subway. possibly has links to the title? i think it was also vaguely supernatural - the phrase "ghost train"?
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