Simon Barker

Simon yelped and jumped back.

Her words reverberated in his skull.

She continued to stare at him, her eyes never leaving his as the bus weaved through traffic.

He gulped and spoke to himself.

It's okay, Simon.

It's not real.

None of this is real.

He repeated the words over and over until the bus driver turned back to the wheel and resumed her normal features.

He was afraid to speak to her again, but he forced himself to.

Are you ever going to stop the bus?

She laughed, the deep rasp of a smoker, and gestured to the sign just ahead.

But you just... Simon hung his head, letting the sentence fall.

He couldn't believe anything he was seeing.

At least they were finally stopping.

He could get off now, and everything would go back to normal.

But, just like before, a rush of people blocked him as he tried to exit.

He didn't bother being polite this time.

He shouted, but the bodies pressed in close,

squishing into the aisle like he wasn't even there.

A breeze wafted through the open door and Simon gulped the fresh air.