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Sechs

I did not lie about the bus after all, as I saw no need for staying in the northern city any longer. And as I tried to find my seat I felt my heart grow even heavier. As long as she is happy, my feelings held no matter, and perhaps it was time to cross the murky moat and let go. But it was her, I then thought, always been, and an ardent hope to always be. Reeling I tried to think that there might be an alternate universe where we still end up with each other in the end. But I guess we’re in one the many universes where that simply won’t be the case. 

I felt the bus move, as it dislodged and departed, and then began my descent south. The bus reeked of cigarettes, and stale food, and vomit. It was raining heavily outside, and the bus was traversing at speed. I tried to get some sleep, but the road proved to be too nauseating, and the sadness harrowed still. I then remembered time slowing down, almost grinding to a halt, as shards of glass flew everywhere inside the vehicle. I noticed the bus frame crumpling, gradually, as I felt cold steel puncturing my left chest, jutting out my back and into the soiled leather seat. I closed my eyes, and thought of January. 

--

As I opened my eyes, I found myself drenched in sweat, in what looked like a classroom. A man dressed in a teacher’s uniform was writing something on a blackboard, as uniformed students seated in front of me dutifully jotted down what it was. I glanced at my right, outside the room’s backdoor, and noticed a girl walking down a flight of stairs.