I stamped out my cigarette, smashing it into the ground with my foot as I casually lit another. I had not smoked when I was younger. But now it didn’t matter. Nothing really mattered. Just the innocent act of breathing was corroding your lungs and filling them with vile, polluted air. A little cigarette smoke meant nothing now. Besides we were only living now to die later anyway.

I’d been waiting for my regular bus. The route went right past my dingy apartment. To tell the truth I’d rather stay holed up inside all day instead of forcing myself outside. Public transit was even worse. I couldn’t help but use it. The price of gas had skyrocketed. With the job that I held I couldn’t afford a vehicle of my own. I frowned. A few people pushed by me, a few more came to stand by my stop. They were regulars, much like myself. We never talked though. We never did. The only time we did talk was to curse at someone or something. I looked at a younger girl standing idly to my right. She had light brown hair, pulled up into a harsh ponytail atop her head. Her eyes were that of a haunting gray. Dark rings hung underneath her eyes. She hadn’t been sleeping much. Not many people did anymore. Insomnia had spread like a disease. The majority of the population was paranoid. So was I. No one could be trusted. The smog filled clouds drifted lazily overhead. No one bothered to look up anymore. It was too saddening. The environment, everything, had deteriorated, right before our eyes. We had stood by. Watching. We complained about the world and environmental issues. Too bad none of us had the initiative to do anything about it anymore. We were just letting the world slip away before us.

I looked down at my feet, clod in large work boots. A heaving sigh lifted by body, yet was met with a ragged cough. The sidewalk was littered with garbage. Old pop cans. Slashed garbage bags. Various plastics. Glass. The only types of plant life that seemed to be able to survive this harsh climate now were the weeds. They could endure almost everything. No one even cared about the political issues anymore. When someone ran a campaign they ignored it. One moron had replaced the next. It was no use now. We all were too far-gone. The bus pulled up to the stop, its headlights cutting through the thick dull gray fog. WHOOOSH. Its doors opened and people shoved each other to rush inside. I trailed along, getting a spot among some sweaty bodies near the mid-section. Someone hollered. Someone screamed then cried out in anguish. A gunshot sounded off. Someone died? Oh well. Looks like I was going to be late today.

We were delayed about half an hour because of the incident. Just my luck. Too bad the real world wasn’t like school. If it had been I could have gotten the bus driver to write me a note which I could hand to my teacher as an excuse. They’d believe it. My boss on the other hand was much different. The only thing that she would buy was a bribe and no excuses. Most people could be bribed with something. Well all except for the stubborn ones. I wouldn’t be in trouble because of my late arrival. It happened every now and then so it wasn’t that big of a deal. Besides it was my pay that would suffer. That just meant that I’d have to make it up tonight.

Moral of the story: Smoking is bad, mmkay?

Related posts:

1. Ketchup Burglar
2. The tablecloth was light blue.
3. Koani vs. Vythe
4. Vythe’s First Day
5. Spectra / Black Shuck

Related posts:

1. Ketchup Burglar
2. The tablecloth was light blue.
3. Koani vs. Vythe
4. Vythe’s First Day
5. Spectra / Black Shuck

Tags: stories