Bus Stop

It's [hot]<01|. (click: ?01)[It's hot, that's true, but it is made so much worse by your [work clothes]<02| and the fact that you are [standing]<03| in the sun.] (click: ?02)[Your boss insists that you wear black and you only have one such outfit that is 'work appropriate'. So, despite the heat, you are wearing it: long sleeves, black jeans, boots and all.] (click: ?03)[At this time in the morning, the [[bus stop]] is full.]

(if:(history:) contains 'not')[You stand fidgeting in the sun. Alternating between absently staring at the [[strangers->people]] around you and [[staring->stare off]] off into the distance.](else-if: (history:) contains 'out of breath')[Like the handful of [[people]] around you, you stand fidgeting in the sun. Alternating between messing around on your [[phone]] and staring off into the distance.](else:)[There is a small patch of shade in the sheltered part of the bus stop but it was taken when you got here. Late and [[out of breath]], as usual. Like the handful of [[people]] around you, you stand fidgeting in the sun. Alternating between messing around on your [[phone]] and staring off into the distance.]

(if:(history:) contains 'not')[You glance around at the others stuck in the sun. A middle-aged woman: hair pulled back; standing patiently; smiling absent-mindedly. A young tradie: paint-splattered clothes; grinning and texting; chugging an iced-coffee. A young man: crumpled suit; frowning; glancing at his watch. Same as before. You [[stare off]] into the distance.](else:)[You glance around at the others stuck in the sun. A middle-aged woman: hair pulled back; standing patiently; smiling absent-mindedly. A young tradie: paint-splattered clothes; grinning and texting; chugging an iced-coffee. A young man: crumpled suit; frowning; glancing at his watch. You accidently make eye-contact and stare intently down at your [[phone]].]

You should probably exercise more. Or ever. And you should manage your time better. It seems lately that you are more disorganised than usual: always late, always running to get to the [[bus stop]]. You wonder whether you should put a reminder on your [[phone]] to go for a run but decide against it. You would just ignore it anyway.

(if: (history:) contains 'phone')[This [[podcast]] isn't working for you. You decide to switch to something else.](else:)[The glare of the sun makes it hard to read the screen so you are deprived of your morning routine of Twitter and Instagram. You mess around, squinting at the screen, trying to find a good [[podcast]] to listen to.]

(if: (history:) contains 'podcast')[You flip back and forth between a couple of your favourites. Nothing is right. It's not the podcasts, it's you: you are [[not]] a morning person.](else:)[You have mostly been listening to [true crime]<01| podcasts lately. It's reassuring in a weird way. (click: ?01)[There is that 10 part series on [Charles Manson]<02| that you need to finish and you have an episode of [My Favourite Murder]<02| to catch up on. ] (click: ?02)[Hoping that nobody at the [[bus stop]] sees the podcast name, you start the episode. ]]

Never have been, never will be. You resign yourself to looking around the [[bus stop]].

(if:(history:) contains 'stare blankly ahead')[Earbuds still in, but nothing playing. Passing cars. [[Parked cars]]. White fence. You [[stare blankly ahead]].](else:)[Earbuds still in, but nothing playing. Passing cars. Parked cars. White fence. You [[stare blankly ahead]].]

Earbuds still in, but nothing playing. Passing truck. Parked cars. White fence. You [[stare blankly ahead->stare off]].

A blue sudan. It's always parked there. You are confused. Why did you focus on this? [Something shifts]<01|. (click: ?01)[And then you see [[him]].]

Half-hidden by the blue bonnet of the car, he is crouching on the road. He is staring directly at [[you]].

A cold chill runs through you. (set: $myVar to "Why is he staring at you?")<tw-link class='cyclingLink' data-cycling-texts='["Why is he staring at you?", "How long has he been there?", "Why is he there?"]' onclick='clickCyclingLink(this, "$myVar");'>$myVar</tw-link> Has [[anyone else]] noticed?

A middle-aged woman: hair pulled back; standing patiently; smiling absent-mindedly. A young tradie: paint-splattered clothes; grinning and texting; chugging an iced-coffee. A young man: slightly sweat-stained suit; frowning; glancing at his watch. Same as before. [[Nothing has changed]].

He is now [standing up]<01|. (click: ?01)[Still staring at you, he begins to [[move forward]].]

Gait awkward and shuffling, he walks directly towards you. He is [[saying]] something.

You rip out your [[earbuds]] and grip your phone. Still, [[no one]] has seen him.

You are not sure what he is saying, it is too soft to hear. He is walking directly towards you, muttering. He is [[mere metres]] from you now.

There are [so many people]<01| at this bus stop. (click: ?01)[You are [safe]<02|.] (click: ?02)[There are [so many people]<03| at this bus stop.] (click: ?03)[//Why is he [walking]<04| towards you?//] (click: ?04)[He is now [[mere metres]] away from you.]

He limps [closer]<01| to you: (click: ?01)[Gaunt face. Leathery skin. Blue boardshorts. You can [hear]<02| him now:] (click: ?02)[//"Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. [[Fuck]]. "//]

He is five steps, |more>[] |more2>[] away from [you]<01|. (click: ?01)[You [stand]<02| your ground.] (click: ?02)[You [look]<03| him in the eyes.] (click: ?03)[You [say]<04|:] (click: ?04)[[["Are you alright, mate?"]]] (live: 1s)[ (replace: ?more)[four steps,](stop:)] (live: 2s)[ (replace: ?more2)[three steps,](stop:)]

He doesn't hesitate, he doesn't stop. Still staring at you, [two steps away]<02|. (click: ?02)[Just as he is about to step into you, he veers off sharply to the left and heads [[up the road]]. Still limping, still swearing.]

No one at the bus stop seems to have noticed. No one at the bus stop seems to care. (set: $myVar to "Did they even see him?")<tw-link class='cyclingLink' data-cycling-texts='["Did they even see him?", "Are you just being paranoid?", "Was it not a big deal?", "Were you overreacting?"]' onclick='clickCyclingLink(this, "$myVar");'>$myVar</tw-link> You try to [[ignore]] these thoughts.

A young woman is heading towards the bus stop. He is heading [towards her]<02|. (click: ?02)[They pass each other without incident; she doesn't even seem to notice him. You watch him until he is out of sight. Your heart is [[pounding]].]

"They saw him too, they just didn't react." [You tell yourself this]<01|. (click: ?01)["They saw him too, it just wasn't a big deal." [You tell yourself this]<02|.] (click: ?02)["They saw him too." [You tell yourself this]<03|.] (click: ?03)["They say him too." You tell yourself this, [[again and again]].]

The bus arrives. You go to work. You [try]<01| to put it out of your mind. (click: ?01)[You try. =><= |more>[] (live: 3s)[ (replace: ?more)[[[THE END->It's Hot Outside]]](stop:)]]