The Last Bus

By Vaani Dosi

It was a cold, rainy night when Emily boarded the last bus of the evening, heading home after a long day at work. The city streets were deserted, the rain tapping rhythmically against the bus windows. Emily settled into a seat near the back, grateful for the warmth inside the bus. There were only a few other passengers: a man in a dark coat reading a book, a young woman scrolling through her phone, and an elderly lady clutching a shopping bag.

The bus rumbled through the city, its lights flickering occasionally. Emily stared out the window, lost in her thoughts, when she noticed something strange. At each stop, no new passengers got on, yet the bus seemed to grow more crowded. She glanced around, noticing more people than when she first boarded. They sat silently, their faces obscured by shadows.

A chill ran down Emily's spine as she realized the new passengers looked oddly translucent, almost ghostly. She tried to catch the driver's eye in the rearview mirror, but his expression was blank, focused straight ahead.

"Excuse me," she called out, but he didn't respond. The other passengers seemed oblivious to her presence, their faces blank and expressionless.

Feeling increasingly uneasy, Emily decided to get off at the next stop. As the bus slowed down, she stood up and moved toward the door, but it didn't open. Panic set in as she realized the bus wasn't stopping. It continued past her usual stop, and the cityscape outside grew unfamiliar.

"What's going on?" she demanded, but the driver remained silent, his eyes fixed on the road.

Desperate, Emily turned to the man in the dark coat. "Do you know what's happening?" she asked.

He looked up from his book, his eyes vacant and cold. "You can't leave," he said softly. "Not yet."

Emily's heart pounded. "What do you mean? I need to get off this bus!"

The young woman with the phone turned to her, her face eerily calm. "We all wanted to get off once," she said, her voice hollow. "But this bus has a destination of its own."

The elderly lady nodded, her expression resigned. "We’re all here for a reason."

Emily felt trapped, her fear mounting. She returned to her seat, her mind racing. What kind of bus was this? And why couldn't she leave?

As the bus continued its journey, the surroundings outside the window changed dramatically. The cityscape faded into a dark, desolate landscape, filled with twisted trees and a sky devoid of stars. The atmosphere grew colder, and Emily could see her breath.

The passengers around her began to murmur, their voices low and filled with despair. She caught fragments of their conversations—stories of regrets, mistakes, and unfinished business. It dawned on her that these people were not alive. They were spirits, trapped on this bus, bound by their unresolved issues.

A deep sense of dread settled over Emily. Was she dead too? She pinched herself, the pain confirming she was still alive. But why was she here?

Suddenly, the bus jolted to a stop. The doors creaked open, revealing a misty, eerie landscape outside. The passengers began to file out, one by one, disappearing into the fog. Emily hesitated, unsure whether to follow. The man in the dark coat paused at the door, turning to her.

"This is your chance," he said. "Face what binds you, or remain trapped forever."

Emily took a deep breath and stepped off the bus, her feet sinking into the damp earth. The mist swirled around her, obscuring her vision. She walked forward, guided by an unseen force, until she found herself in front of a small, decrepit house.

The house was familiar. It was her childhood home, abandoned for years after a tragic fire that had claimed her parents' lives. She had never returned, unable to face the painful memories. Tears filled her eyes as she approached the front door, her hand trembling as she reached for the handle.

As she stepped inside, the house came alive with memories. She saw herself as a child, playing with her parents, the rooms filled with laughter and love. But then the memories darkened, and she saw the night of the fire. She saw herself, scared and alone, unable to save her parents.

Emily fell to her knees, sobbing. She had always blamed herself, carrying the guilt like a heavy burden. But now, she felt a presence beside her. Her parents, their spirits warm and comforting, appeared before her.

"It's not your fault," her mother said gently. "You were just a child."

"We love you, Emily," her father added. "It's time to let go."

A sense of peace washed over her, and she felt the weight lift from her shoulders. She had finally faced her past, and in doing so, freed herself from its grip.

The house faded away, and she found herself back at the bus stop. The bus was gone, and the night was calm and clear. She felt different—lighter, unburdened. She knew she had been given a second chance.

As she walked home, she looked up at the sky, now filled with stars. She had faced her fears, and in doing so, had freed not only herself but the spirits on that bus. She knew they had found their peace, just as she had found hers.

Emily never saw the bus again, but she carried the experience with her, a reminder that sometimes, to move forward, you must first confront the ghosts of your past.

By Vaani Dosi