I moved my foot up and down, feeling increasingly impatient. A chubby, sweaty boy sneezes next to me, very close to me. I frowned and walked away from him without it being very noticeable. I looked at the digital clock displayed on a small screen above my head.

« Come on, come now! I'll be late. »

I adjusted the guitar case better on my back, there is not much inside and what is there is not even a guitar, but I do not have much strength or physical condition. I get tired easily and that has made my daily life difficult.

The sound of a notification on my cell phone brought me out of my thoughts. I took it out of my pocket and sighed heavily when I saw the name of the person who had just emailed me.

“Selena Brucks”

She and I are coworkers at the cafeteria where I work. We get along well but it's not like we are best friends. And the only time we talk by text is about work, and I'm sure this time will be no exception.

« I don't want to know about work now. Today is my day off »

I opened her message and when I read it I only became more confused and frowned.

"Hello Aisha. I listen to the news. Don't worry, if you need help, you can count on me"

«¿News? What news?»

I responded to her message asking what she was referring to. As soon as I sent it, a bus stopped in front of me. I adjusted the tape on the case and went up. I paid the driver and walked to one of the last rows of seats. I took off my guitar case and sat by the window, placing it next to me.

Just when the bus started my cell phone rang again, this time it was the ringtone.

I looked at it thinking it would be Selena, but instead I saw that the contact said “Dwarf”, I immediately smiled knowing it was my little brother.

—Dwarf, what a miracle. Do you miss me already? —I asked as soon as I answered the call.

—Stop joking Ash! Where are you? The competition starts in an hour. He spoke excitedly, in the background I heard the bustle of the crowd.

—Don't worry, I'm on my way.

—You bring it with you, right?

—¿Your katana? Yes, I bring it with me.—I confirmed while i put a hand on the case—¿Why did you put it in a guitar case? You know how heavy it is for me.

I heard his laughter on the other side.

—Don't you think it would be strange to see someone with a gun taking public transportation? They could even arrest you thinking you are planning an attack.

«Well, you have a point.» I smiled and adjusted my glasses better. "I still don't understand why of all the sports you chose that one."

—The iaido is sacred, don't mess with it

«Here we go again » I thought to myself, rolling my eyes.

—It's exciting, you know? Plus, you never know when you might use a sword.

—Yes, yes, whatever you say, dwarf. Keep living in that fantasy of yours while you can.—I looked out the window watching the people walking down the streets—Adult life is more ruthless than you think.

—You sound like a real old woman.—He made fun of me. I heard someone shout his name behind him. —They're calling me, I have to get ready. Hurry up, okay? I can't win the competition without it.

—Don't worry, I'll be there soon.

——————————

He said goodbye to me and I did the same. I hung up my phone and everything went dark around me. We had entered a tunnel. I was concentrated watching the small orange lights of the tunnel pass by when underneath one I saw a large and tall shadow with a humanoid shape but... strange. I was surprised by this and turned my head back as the bus continued moving so I could see him a little more, but it was very dark and I lost sight of him in a short time.

Before I could question whether what I had just seen was simply a figment of my imagination, a notification arrived on my phone

«'I feel very requested today»

I unlocked it when I saw that it was another message from Selena.

"Haven't you seen your email?"

I frowned once more. I immediately opened my email and upon doing so saw a new message from my boss. I opened it and as I was reading my hands started to shake. I started slowly shaking my head.

«No no no. He can't do this to me now!»

Fired, I'm fired.

«Not again, damn it. I have a lot of things to pay this month, including Liam's tuition.»

I locked the phone and buried my head in my hands. It's always the same, I've lost count of how many times I've been fired from a job. My body has always been weak and I'm not talented at anything, I always ruin everything, not like my brother Liam. He and I are completely the opposite.

I wasn't even good at school, so I left to find a job and help Liam fulfill his dream of studying business. However, getting a job has not been easy, much less keeping it. Someone as useless as me is not accepted anywhere.

I felt treacherous tears running down my eyes because of the helplessness I felt inside of me.

«Come on Aisha, this isn't the first time this has happened. You can do it, you'll get through it» I encouraged myself.

I sniffled, took off my glasses and wiped the tears from my face. I had to calm down before we got to the competition or Liam would worry, plus I don't feel like making a scene in front of these people.

Even with my head down I used the sleeve of my sweatshirt to clean my now foggy glasses.

I heard how the people inside the bus began to murmur all at once, somewhere between scared and curious. I put my glasses back on and looked up ahead just as someone yelled "be careful" and a humanoid being with horns on its head hit the front of the vehicle.

The impact propelled me forward, causing me to hit the bar of the front seat. The sound of breaking glass, the screech of bending metal, and the horrified screams of people were the last things I heard before I fell unconscious.