Chasing the Bus into an Endless Hallway of Lockers

Chasing the Bus into an Endless Hallway of Lockers

I woke up late for work, sprinted to the bus stop, and realized I’d left my phone on the kitchen counter. While I was frantically searching, I saw my boyfriend—Tom—standing at the bus stop, holding a coffee for someone else. The other person was my old college roommate, Maya, who I haven’t seen in years. They were laughing, and Tom slipped his arm around her like they were a couple. I tried to wave, but my hand felt heavy, like I was moving through water. The bus doors opened, and I stepped in, but the driver looked at me and said, “You’re not supposed to be here today.” I turned around, and the bus turned into a hallway that stretched forever, lined with lockers that all had my name on them. I could hear Tom’s voice behind me, saying, “I thought you’d be at the meeting.” I woke up just as I was about to open a locker and find a key I didn’t recognize.