Is This My Stop?

They say nothing happens right away after visiting the Silent Stop. That’s how it tricks

you. Days pass. Life feels normal. You almost forget the footsteps.

Almost. Small things begin to feel wrong. Your reflection doesn’t move when

you do— just for a second too long. You start hearing buses at night,

even though no routes run near your house. Then your dreams change. You’re standing

at the Silent Stop again. Alone. The air is quiet. Every night,

the dream lasts longer. Until one night… you don’t wake up from it.

Instead, you hear it for real. A bus stopping outside your home.