Short Story - The Traveler

A traveler steps off of a bus into a deserted bus stop. He exhales slowly reveling in the isolation. All around the bus stop rain pounds, crowds roar, and chaos reigns. The bus stop is an oasis: a desert in a sea of humanity. The traveler sits realizing that his peaceful bliss cannot persist. Life demands that he venture forth into the storm, but he is unable to cast away from his safe harbor. Here sits the traveler: alone at a bus stop.

There is a siren in the distance. The traveler starts. Did he commit a crime of which he was unaware? His pulse races, and his hands become sweaty. The klaxons grow louder and louder, and his anxiety grows in accordance. The ambulance passes, and the traveler realizes that his fears were misguided. Why is he still shaking though? Here sits the traveler: alone at the bus stop.

Two young women pass by giggling. The traveler’s eyes frantically search his appearance. He removes a small mirror certain to find a blemish on his face. He eventually discovers that his shoe is untied. The traveler’s face flushes convinced that this is the source of their amusement. Here sits the traveler: embarrassed at the bus stop.

The traveler’s oasis has been desecrated. His refuge from humanity has failed him allowing his fear and anxiety to penetrate. The traveler longs for community, but how can he venture into the chaos when he struggles so in this haven? Resigned to remain in anxious isolation, the traveler sinks further into his bench. Here sits the traveler: defeated at the bus stop.

A stranger enters the bus stop. Two strong yet opposing emotions assault the traveler. He is overjoyed at the prospect of connecting with another, but this joy is countered by a sense of dread: dread that this stranger will find him lacking. The stranger greets the traveler. The traveler nods. “Why do you sit here alone at this bus stop?” the stranger asks. The traveler stammers “I..I need to catch my breath.” “Best hurry” responds the traveler, “there are things to do, places to go, and people to meet.” The traveler stares curiously at the stranger. The stranger looks the traveler in the eyes and quotes Walter Anderson saying, “Nothing diminishes anxiety faster than action.” Having imparted this wisdom, the stranger departs, and here sits the traveler perplexed at the bus stop.

The traveler remains rooted to his post. The stranger’s words echo in his consciousness but fail to move the traveler. A car pulls up to the bus stop, and a friendly voice calls from the open window. “Hello friend! You look like you could use a lift. Come with me, and I will carry you through this storm.” The traveler smiles. Maybe this is what he has been waiting for: one to carry him through the chaos and insert him into a community. The traveler’s mind flies through images of him navigating parties, outings, and all sorts of social situations safely behind the shield of the stranger’s personality. He begins to stand, but an unsettling revelation dawns. The traveler realizes that all of these experiences will be counterfeit. He will remain isolated even in a crowd because he will remain hidden. The stranger will allow the traveler to exist in the community, but he will remain hidden behind his own walls as well as the driver’s shields. This is not what the traveler longs for, so once again the traveler sits alone at the bus stop.

The traveler continues to sit alone and hopeless. A group of people approaches. The group is a lively community, and the stranger stares longingly. It is a hub of both beautiful companionship and terrifying chaos. A tear falls onto the traveler’s cheek as he decides that he will never be able to be present in such a community. He quietly weeps fearing that he will draw unwanted attention from the objects of his envy. The group disperses with hugs and handshakes, and there sits the traveler: more alone than he has ever been.

When the traveler looks up from his despondent contemplation, he realizes that one of the group members is jogging toward the bus stop. The stranger reaches the shelter of the traveler’s oasis. As he enters the stranger’s composure briefly dissolves. The stranger takes several deep breaths and closes his eyes. Eventually the stranger regains his poise and notices the traveler. A smile spreads across the stranger’s face as he says, “I know you friend.” The traveler explains the impossibility of this situation, but the stranger persists. “Friend I know you because I was you. I once found refuge in this very bus stop. I see my anxiety on your face. I hear my fear in your breathing, and I feel my longing in your heart.” The stranger sits next to the traveler and offers his hand to shake. “I cannot convince you to leave this oasis nor will I carry you through the storm, but I can offer to walk with you through the storm. I can accompany you as you face the chaos and support you when it is hard.”

The traveler takes the stranger’s hand and asks, “why are you doing this for me.” The stranger looks into the traveler’s eyes and replies, “if not for another’s kindness I would still be in this bus stop rather than experiencing the joy of community. I invite you to join me on this adventure through the chaos. I promise that it is worth it.” The traveler smiles and stands, and out walks the traveler alone no more, and the bus stop is empty: waiting to provide shelter for another weary traveler who seeks refuge from the chaos.

#tips #change