Gemotions

The bus chugged along, its stops seeming miles apart. Maya fidgeted with the strap of her bag, her knuckles white. She had a tight schedule today, a job interview looming like a storm cloud. She had been on this bus for twenty minutes now, what felt like an hour.

She imagined David at home, the door locked, engrossed in his studies. She knew he was trying to surprise her, to master the nuances of her Japanese. But the thought of it right now grated on her nerves. She needed this interview; it was a chance to climb out of her current rut.

She pulled out her phone and checked her messages, hoping for an update. Still nothing. The bus finally lurched to a halt, the doors opening with a hiss. She practically leaped out, eager to be finally free.