Shivani Bhakta

The Notebook

The bus doors screech open. Anna settles into an empty seat by the window and watches Franky close up the diner. The neon pink Ruby's Diner sign flickers across puddles left behind from the afternoon rain. As the bus drives away, Anna catches a glimpse of her reflection in the window. The bags under her eyes are deep and gray, and a few strands of hair have loosened from her ponytail. She brushes them away with her fingers and smells the scent of grease and butter lingering on them.