Brynn

The bus came to a standstill.

It was the fourth or fifth one at this point. Brynn wasn’t keeping count anymore.

She’d had a good night. Her first concert went swimmingly well, throat still sore from yelling the lyrics through. She continued to recap the night. The person in front of her kept stepping on the person next to them, she smiled to herself. Her eyes met herself in the mirror. It faded as she looked away.

She looked around the bus. It was late now so the lights were off. The person next to her was fast asleep. Someone else was texting pretty intently.

Brynn picked up her phone. She put it back down. Looked back out the window. Brynn liked the city at night, the orange street lights. It was winter, the snow made for a nice backdrop. Every now and again, she’d notice someone walking. Down the street, maybe crossing a road. Someone else was hauling groceries.

“At this time?” to herself.

Brynn picked up her phone. A missed call. Her mother. She put it back down.

She had a couple more stops to go, she shut her eyes. A couple stops later she opened them again. She stared enviously at her seat partner for a moment.

Eighth stop? No, ninth. Two more to go.

She stifled a cough.

One more.

There was someone at the next stop. Bright orange jacket. Her breath fogged up the window, and she looked forward once more. At the back of the seat ahead of her.

That’s me.

Tapping her neighbour “Hey, uh. Could yo–”

They’d placed their legs outwards already.

“Thank you”

Nodding, “Have a good night”

“You too”

It was cold outside. Not windy though. Brynn didn’t like the wind too much.

It was a three minute walk back home.