Bird Bus

I woke up in hell, heat clawing at my lungs, the ground whispering beneath me. Something began to crawl toward me. Then a bus pulled up. The doors opened with a soft hiss. Inside: birds. Rows of them. Silent. Watching. I didn’t question it. I got on. The doors shut. The creatures outside screamed—but couldn’t follow. A crow drove. A pigeon scooted over so I could sit. We left hell behind without a word.