Dream

In a dark field illuminated by substitute stars and a shattered moon, Zi Xiang laid, tucked into the grass. In a sleep trance, he faded in and out of consciousness while sleeping half awake and half asleep. Unable to properly sleep he kept thinking about his home his parents, family, and friends would he ever see them again? Where were they right now? Were they trying to find him? What would they do if he died? Thoughts about his family and life appeared and disappeared.

In the end, he was taken into a dream, Zi Xiang was sitting backseat in an empty car he leaned his head on his arm as he watched the car drive down an empty road it was late into the night and no one was around. The sky was completely dark without a single star in sight, only a few planes and satellites above could be seen letting out a slight near unnoticeable light in the pitch-black night sky.

Pulling into an empty parking lot Zi Xiang got out, the car window started to roll down, thanking his driver Zi Xiang gave a light, "thank you" and a slight bow. Looking in from the open window no one was inside. Zi Xiang walked over to the side of the parking lot and waved at the car as it drove off into the inky darkness.

Zi Xiang checked his pockets finding his bus ticket, it was a piece of printer paper with the number fourteen labeled on it. Keeping it in his hands Zi Xiang sat at the curb and watched as other cars slowly pulled in dropping people off before leaving. Looking around for anyone familiar Zi Xiang stood up and started walking around. Looking at the people they appeared just to be dark grayish phantoms. Walking past most of them had vague near unidentifiable features though there were a few minor identifiable features how large they were, how deep or shallow their bodies were, and a few other attributes unique to each one.

Bumping into one Zi Xiang's shoulder passed right through him, he looked vaguely familiar his saturation and color seemed vaguely recognizable. But after getting a closer look Zi Xiang realized it wasn't anyone he knew apologizing Zi Xiang continued looking through the crowd. After Zi Xiang finished Looking through everyone who was around the first bus arrived everyone took a step away from the curb to give the bus space.

As the bus stopped the door creaked open with a sound of air being pushed out. People started to enter the bus Zi Xiang stepped in and waited to get his checked, after waiting for his turn Zi Xiang gave his ticket to the bus driver.

The Bus driver started at the ticket before giving a grunt, the people next in line passed right through Zi Xiang. Walking back off the bus Zi Xiang watched more people step in and show their tickets. After most of the bus was filled it closed its door and pulled away its headlights illuminating the dark road as it left for some unknown place.

Checking his ticket again Zi Xiang saw that some of the letters were starting to smudge being more careful he placed it back into his pocket. Looking around there were still quite a few people less than a fifth of the people left.

Zi Xiang waited around as he watched other people converse among each other. Vaguely able to make out what they were saying, it was something about subjectivity in connections between two different species which branched off of one another. Listening in for awhile Zi Xiang didn't pick up much more other than some stuff about wall lizards and finches.

The next bus soon arrived pulling into the parking lot another batch of people got onto the bus after most of the people had already entered Zi Xiang got on and showed his ticket to the driver. This time the driver was silent only looking back up to the road. Zi Xiang stepped off again checking his ticket it became a little faded.

Sitting back on the curb Zi Xiang waited for the next bus to arrive. After five minutes the next bus parked beside the curb. Zi Xiang awkwardly meandered around the bus door waiting for everyone to finish before stepping on. He walked up the bus stairs and showed his ticket to the bus driver. Its vague features looked down at the ticket before giving an uninterested growl. Stepping back down Zi Xiang watched the bus close its doors and drive off.

Looking around most of the people waiting around had already left Zi Xiang looked around the parking lot noticing a lamp post he hadn't seen before he, it was the only source of light so it was surprising that Zi Xiang hadn't noticed it before.

Looking up at the lamp all sorts of insects were swarming around it moths, flies, locusts, and even a lone wasp were flying around the lamp. Leaning against it Zi Xiang watched the insects bump into the lamp and crash into each other to pursue the light. The wasp was particularly noticeable as it flew it made a humming noise.

It darted from place to place grabbing a locust it stung it and started to rip it apart letting its limbs and body fall onto the ground. It continued its self destructive behavior finding the next insect to rip apart. Zi Xiang gazed up at the insect watching it catch an insect and rip it apart with its mandibles, the cruel act was illuminated by the soft white light displaying its covetous nature. Zi Xiang watched as the wasp tried to drive away the other insects, though none of them seemed to care even as they were grabbed and ripped apart they only struggled for the light.

The next bus arrived Zi Xiang watched half of the remaining people line up to get seated, watching the line shrink until there were only a few people left Zi Xiang walked into line pulling out his ticket the edges of it and part of the numbers were singed off. Burn marks consumed the edges of the ticket and had eaten away at part of the numbers.

Zi Xiang was the last person to stand before the bus driver showing him the ticket, the bus driver placed a hand on the ticket before taking it off and making a dissatisfied squelching. Zi Xiang stepped off the bus and watched it drive off into the unknown. Walking back to the lamp post the wasp seemed to have slowed down and three of its legs were missing disconnected at the joint each leg was sloppily mutilated some sinewy flesh hung from the joint. It seemed to tire but nonetheless continued its crusade of catching and dismembering each insect that approached the light.

Zi Xiang watched in interest as each insect struggled and fought against the wasp before being torn to shreds. Though each insect put up an impressive struggle Zi Xiang just observed completely distanced from the event. Before noticing it the next bus had arrived and the rest of the people standing around filed into it.

Zi Xiang got on last, slipping his ticket to the driver it was slightly drenched in water like fluid. Some parts of the numbers had washed off at this point, the ticket was nearly unrecognizable. The driver took the ticket into its palms before making some off guttural noises and handing the ticket back Zi Xiang tried to talk to the bus driver but, was only met with silence. As the engine started and the bus departed Zi Xiang appeared back under the lamp.

Looking around no one except for Zi Xiang was around they had all left. Looking at the ticket in his hands Zi Xiang felt a little depressed it had been crumpled up, soaked in fluid, burnt, the paper was faded and the ink smudged. It was near impossible to tell what it said anymore Zi Xiang could only make out the words because he already knew what it said.

Everyone else had already left and Zi Ziang was the only one left a feeling of deep loneliness permeated Zi Xiang's body. Zi Xiang sat under the lamp post leaning on its base watching the wasp again he had nothing better to do there may not even be another bus coming.