The Bus Was the Lobby and Maya Called My Name

The Bus Was the Lobby and Maya Called My Name

I dreamed I was waiting for the 7:42 bus after work, same stop by the pharmacy, except the sidewalk felt longer than usual and I kept checking my phone for a text that never loaded. Then Maya from my old job was suddenly sitting on the bench like she’d always been there, wearing her office cardigan over jeans. We were supposed to grab coffee last year and never did. She smiled like she recognized me immediately, which made my chest tight in a good way. I tried to say something normal about the delay, but my voice came out too quiet. When the bus finally came it was also the lobby of our old office building. We sat together. I kept thinking I should take her hand, then didn’t. At my stop I stood up too fast and left my tote. She called my name. I woke up embarrassed and a little sad I hadn’t gone back.