Realization Kicks In
I checked my phone for the time and felt a jolt of surprise—this strange detour had dragged on far longer than I’d realized. School was supposed to start soon, yet we remained stuck here, no closer to understanding why. A spike of unease tightened in my chest, not just over the disruption to the kids’ day, but over the unsettling mystery behind it all. Whispers from other parents echoed in my mind—rumors, half-believed stories, and suspicions that once seemed far-fetched but now felt uncomfortably possible.
Realization Kicks In
Extended Stop Puzzling
I watched as the bus remained parked far longer than any normal stop, each passing minute feeding the swirl of questions in my mind. Could it be mechanical trouble? Unlikely—the engine still hummed steadily. No, something felt undeniably off, and a knot of unease tightened in my chest. My fingers fumbled with the seatbelt as I debated getting out or staying hidden, the damp air around me heavy with a growing sense of urgency I could no longer ignore.
Extended Stop Puzzling
