XXX | Journey

❦

I'm inside a poorly-driven bus

heading away
from the nameless chicken rice shop.

In my hand,
is a ticket.

Aspen gave it to me.

I was going to throw it
into the dustbin at the bus stop.

'We're going on a trip.
'Come along and see the world for yourself.'

He smiled.

Satisfied with himself.

I glared at him.

But I pulled my hand back from the bin,
crushed the ticket in my fist.

Staring at it now,

unfolded,

I think it's probably

not a real trip at all.

There's a drawing
of a rowan tree
on the ticket.

Elaborate,

realistic,

like a photo captured by a brush.

There's

no location,
no date,
no description,
no itinerary,
no price,
no terms and conditions.

Only a serial number in the corner:
NO. 501557615

and a line of text:
THE TRUTH.

'I'm not interested,' I told Aspen.

But he ignored me.

So I was going to throw it away.

Aspen saw me off
at the entrance of the shop.

Rowan didn't

but I saw her head sticking out
from behind the counter.

She's so easy to read.

'Rowan will be there,'
Aspen had said.

'You?' I had asked.

He grinned mischievously.
'Of course I'll be there too.'

I scowled.

I only wanted to go
to keep an eye on the creep.

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