Writing Prompt #1 : Josie Gatling's Adventure from the Dead
I took a deep breath, trying to calm down my erratic heartbeat as I wait for the bus.
I held up my phone to the level of my face and checked if my soft pink lipstick is smudged, thanks to my uncanny mannerism to bite my lip when I'm nervous. I tucked the loose strands of my shoulder length brown hair behind my ear. Satisfied with my look, I pocketed the gadget.
""Get it together Josephine." I muttered lowly to myself. My edginess amp up a volume as more people come and wait under the shade of the bus stop againts the warm morning sun.
Five more minutes until the red vehicle will turn into the curve. And then... and then...
My throat feels like it's been stuffed with gravel and sand.
A small kid was crying beside me as his mother scolds her.
The sun's rays was covered by a puff of cloud making the place a little less brighter.
I think my brain is also a little less brighter today.
This is such a stupid idea.
The red monsterous bus gleamed from the sun's now unpertrubed rays. The people around me tightened their grips on their bag as they prepare for the fight for the carrier's cushony seat. I let out a deep breath. You. Can. Do. This.
I stepped on to the bus and scanded the passengers of the metal tube.
I scowled when my target was no where to be seen. I blinked and took a second swipe of the scenery.
My brown eyes settled on a man. The man.
Ah there you are gorgeous.
He stood at the aisle almost near the end. His left hand curled into the grip as his other arm holds a vintage brown bag. I pushed my way through the crowd with a lot of 'scuse mes and sorry. I eyes fixated on the man. The last hurdle was conquered. A shy smile of victory curved up my lip. So this is it, the day that I will ask my bus crush for coffee. I feel elated, my cheeks are probably burning now and small beads of sweat decorated my forhead. I opend my mouth but at the same time the bus came into a screaching halt. I almost barreled towards him but I was able to grip the head of the seat in front of me.
The passengers murmur behind me as the bus slowly moved and picked up the pace. Without a second though I faced the man and blurted.
"Hi! Are you okay? That was unexpected. The bus I mean. Shit I'm blabbering. Shit I said shit in front of you. Oh god..." my cheeks feels hot amd my knees are buckling. He stared at me with plate size eyes. His shock, confusion and uneasiness is oozing . I tried one more time. Hopefully doing more repairs than burns.
"I'm er.. sorry I creeped you out. It's just I always seem to ride the same bus as yo-"
He let out snort which cut me off. His blue eyes stared back at me.
"Blimey! You can see me?" His english accent made me blush down to my neck.
"Well of course. I see you everyday when I ride the bus to work." I fidgeted with my cardigan. The people sitting next to me glances with narrow eyes. Sheesh, people are such haters of love. I tried to ignore them.
The english man in front of me smiled. And what a beautiful smile it is. My stomach shoul've had butterflies but his last words filled it with cold dread instead. He continued speaking.
"I've been dead for 3 years now and I can't get out of this bloody bus. Maybe you can help me lass?"
And that is how I, Josephine Gatling, your typical mid-twenties librarian, started my new career on how to help the souls crossover.
