The Stone Woman in the Jungle

A bus pulled into the station and stopped in front of my platform. I stood, put on my backpack, and grabbed the handle of my suitcase. Everyone else on the platform started to gather their belongings and began to push toward the bus. I, in no hurry, let others push their way ahead of me. I was traveling alone and I knew the bus wouldn't leave without me, so I didn't care if I boarded first or last.

I slid my suitcase into one of the large compartments under the bus and walked toward the bus's front entry door. I handed the driver my ticket.

"You're a little young to travel alone, aren't you?" he asked.

I knew this was a precautionary question to weed out underage travelers who are trying to run away from home, but I still felt insulted.

"I assure you, I'm 23," I responded. "I can legally ride without a guardian. Do you want to see my ID?"

"No, no," he said. "I do think this is a long trip to take on your own, though. Find a seat."

I walked down the aisle of the mostly full bus. About a quarter of the way back, I saw a lone woman sitting in an aisle seat. She appeared to be about ten years older than me.

"Is your other seat taken?" I asked.

"You can sit with me," she said. "You do have to take the window seat though. I get car sick when I sit next to the window."

I slid past her and into the seat. I took my backpack off and pushed it under the seat in front of me.

"My name is Meeka," she said when I sat back up.

"Meeka, good to meet you," I said. "I'm Jana."

"Jana, do you have a roommate for this trip?" Meeka asked.

I shook my head no.

"Well, neither do I," she said. "You can room with me. Now, if you don't mind, I have some work to get done before we stop tonight. I was told that the place we're staying might be the last place we have internet access on this trip, and I want to finish some documents so I can send them to my boss."

I wasn't hurt by Meeka's desire to be left alone. I had a lot to think about.

The bus pulled out of the station and away from the city. I've lived in this city my whole life. My grandmother moved here with my father after my grandfather died. My family has been here since.

I've rarely left the city. There wasn't a reason to. It was so large and contained everything my family ever needed. Also, once you left the city, there wasn't much around. The city is in a valley between mountains. Past the mountains is a vast jungle.

The bus will take me out of the city, over the mountains, and to the other side of the jungle. In total, it's a three-day journey. The bus will stop two evenings at rest lodges along the highway.

I'm going on this trip because of my grandmother's sister. My grandmother died about 10 years ago, but her sister is still alive. I've never met my great aunt. She sent me a letter a few months ago asking me to visit. She said she hasn't seen any family members in a long time. She found my address in a country directory and then sent me the letter.

I wasn't going to go because the trip is so long. But I thought it was curious that she reached out to me. I've never met this woman. I've never even talked to her before. So, why would she want to see me now?

Perhaps she was dying. Maybe, she had something to tell or give me. She didn't give any clues in her letter. She only insisted I come.

The bus exited the city to the east. It went up the mountain road and curved around the rocky edges. The road sloped down out of the mountains and toward the edge of the jungle.