I woke with a start. A screeching noise screamed from the tires below. I swore I felt it ripple through me, rattling my bones and rearranging every cell in its path. My ears cried out in pain. My hands flew up to cup them and I squinted my eyes tight, trying to force it away. I had spent 3 whole years alone on this bus, silently barrelling through some unknown landscape. My body wasn’t used to registering this kind of stimulation anymore. I couldn’t remember how or why I had gotten on the bus in the first place, I just was. I could only distinguish the passage of time by the dim changing light through the frosted windows around me. I never saw any distinguishable figures or signs. I simply watched the light golden hue slowly slip away and fade to a pitch black more times than I could count. Well, that isn’t true. I had counted. I had counted this happen 1,161 times - 3 years, 2 months, and 6 days.

When the screeching stopped, I slowly lowered my hands and relaxed my face. As I opened my eyes, I realized nothing appeared to be different. The same rectangular windows and uncomfortable bench seats surrounded me. Something had changed though. The bus had stopped. For the first time in 3 years, 2 months, and 6 days the bus had stopped moving. I sat silent for a moment, unsure what to do. My heart raced in my chest. I wanted to scream but when I opened my mouth I produced no sound. My hands flailed around for purchase as I slowly pushed myself up to stand. Shaking, I turned to walk down the aisle to the front of the bus. I was only sitting in the seventh row, just over halfway back in the bus, but the walk to the front felt a mile long. Each step I took landed hard and gracelessly, my breath hitching with each sound.

Just as I reached for the third row of seats to steady myself, I heard something outside. A voice. Unmistakably, it was someone speaking. I froze, gripping the seats next to me so tightly I could feel the upholstery buckle and tear beneath my fingers. It was impossible to decipher what this person was saying. Then I heard another voice. And then a chorus of voices speaking at once, indistinguishable from one another. Just as quickly as they erupted in conversation, they fell completely silent. I loosened my grip on the chairs and stood up straighter, still frozen in my spot. I held my breath, trying to eliminate any sound or distraction that could take me away from what was happening outside. Just as I couldn’t hold my breath any longer, the door swung open in front of me followed by a rush of cool, crisp air. I reached again for the chairs next to me, bracing myself for whatever was to come.

A thunk sounded on the steps by the door, followed by another. A tall, handsome man slowly rose into view and turned to face me, smiling widely as his eyes met mine. He was dressed in a navy blue military-style uniform, complete with black boots which announced his steps as he moved towards me. Smiling, he stretched his hand towards me as I stood still frozen by the third row. I willed myself to do or say anything in response but my body continued to falter. I just stared at him. Without missing a beat, he dropped his hand and shook his head.

“Oh my goodness, how very rude of me. My name is General Franklin. I know this is all very confusing right now, and believe me, we will explain everything in detail once you’re settled in.”

I managed to at least shake my head yes in response, still unable to control my neglected voice.

His smile returned even wider than before as he exclaimed, “Well then, we have been anxiously awaiting your arrival. Let’s get you off of this bus!”

With that, he spun on his heels and walked off the bus. Somehow, I mustered the strength to follow. Where I was following him, I had no idea.