To the Stars and Beyond

The sky was as dark as the feathers of a raven and there didn't appear to be any chance of the sun poking through. 6:40 A.M. That's the time when I'm forced to leave the comfort of my house and make my way to the bus stop. Yes, even as a senior in high school I still have to ride the bus instead of driving. I didn't really mind though. I had more time for daydreaming and thinking on a school bus than I would have if I drove. I stepped out the front door and my mother called out from the kitchen.

"Brooklyn, honey," she shouted. "Don't forget your umbrella." I rolled my eyes.

"Alright mom," I called back while simultaneously opening my umbrella. Then I began my trek up the street to the bus stop. The wind swirled all around me as if trying to push me back. After a bit of walking and my umbrella almost turning inside out I got to the stop. I stood there in the cold impatiently with my arms folded across my chest.

'It was cold and too early to do anything productive' I decided. As I stood there tapping my foot on the pavement I happened to glance down the street. Although I was the only one at the stop today, which wasn't unusual, I didn't feel alone today. At that exact moment a figure became somewhat visible in the distance. Even though the figure resembled a shadow I could still determine that it was a man. He was illuminated only by the faint glow of the lamppost that stood near by. Oddly enough I wasn't afraid of this suspicious person, whoever he is. My curiosity, however, was peaked. I continued to watch him until the ugly yellow vehicle pulled up and came to a screeching halt in front of me, dragging me back into reality. The doors swung open but I didn't get on right away. Before I boarded the bus I took another quick look down the street. The man was gone. I gave a deep sigh and then climbed the small stairs of the bus. I always sit alone and it's been that way since my freshman year. I just don't really seem to get along with certain people. I'm a bit random and sarcastic which most people can find annoying. Giving another sigh, I put my headphones on and tuned out the world while I rested my head against the window. The raindrops kept falling and I watched them even though I had little interest in the rain. Peering out the window I saw it again! That same figure of a man standing across the street. He stood perfectly still and began to wave in my direction. I hesitantly waved back but soon enough he vanished once more.

'I must be loosing my mind' I thought to myself. 'There's no other explanation'. The bus pulled up to the school a bit earlier then usual. I slung my backpack over my shoulder and began to exit the bus.

'Time to start another boring day at school,' I thought. 'Same old boring routine that I go through everyday.' And I was correct. I went through the day half listening to my teachers and half thinking about the mysterious man who appears to be following me. Is he someone I know? Have I met him before? Why was he following me? All questions to which I had no answer. I brushed it off for now. When the final bell rang I popped out of my seat and made my way to my locker. Finally the day was over. I gathered my belongings and made my way back to that disgusting yellow form of transportation. The air around the idling buses was nauseating enough to make you pass out. Such a terrible smell. I took my seat on the bus and we pulled away from the prison commonly known as high school. Time ticked by and soon I was home. I began to walk back down the hill toward my house when I heard a loud noise coming from essentially nowhere. It was nothing like I had ever heard before. I looked all around the area but I was alone in the middle of a quiet quiet neighborhood. How could I hear such a noise if no one was there?

"I guess that's it," I said with a slight hysterical laugh. "I've finally cracked. I've gone absolutely crazy. I'm seeing figures and strange noises. What's next?" Little did I know that this was only the beginning.