Whispers of the Departed: The Beijing Bus

In the heart of bustling Beijing, a young woman named Li Wei stumbled upon an eerie legend that had been whispered through the city's narrow alleys for generations. The Beijing Bus, so the story went, was a chariot of the dead, a conveyance that ferried souls to the afterlife. But there was a catch: the bus only departed when it was full, and the souls aboard were restless, yearning for their final passage.

One crisp autumn evening, Li Wei, a curious and somewhat adventurous soul, decided to delve into the legend. She had heard tales of the bus stopping at an old, abandoned bus stop on the outskirts of the city, a place where the living dared not venture. Driven by a sense of adventure and a thirst for the unknown, she decided to pay the stop a visit.

The bus stop was a haunting sight, nestled between overgrown bushes and the shadows of dilapidated buildings. The bus itself was an ancient, decrepit vehicle, its windows fogged with the mist of countless journeys. Li Wei approached cautiously, her heart pounding with a mix of fear and excitement.

As she stood there, a sudden chill crept up her spine. She felt an inexplicable presence, as if the air itself was thick with the weight of the departed. She took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves, and noticed a faded sign on the bus stop's wall. It read, "The Beijing Bus: Departure Time Unknown."

Li Wei's curiosity got the better of her. She approached the bus, her fingers trembling as she reached for the door handle. To her horror, the door creaked open, and a gust of cold wind swept through, carrying with it the faint scent of decay. She stepped inside, the bus interior as dark and ominous as the night itself.

The bus was empty, save for a single, ancient seat. Li Wei sat down, her eyes wide with fear. Suddenly, she heard a whisper, faint but unmistakable, echoing through the bus. "Who dares to enter our domain?"

Li Wei's heart raced as she turned to see a shadowy figure materialize at the front of the bus. It was an elderly man, his face etched with lines of sorrow and pain. "I am the driver of the Beijing Bus," he said, his voice a mixture of sadness and weariness. "We wait for the living to fill our seats, so we can depart to the afterlife."

Li Wei's eyes widened in shock. "But why do you wait for the living? Why not just go?"

The driver sighed, his eyes filled with a deep, sorrowful understanding. "The living are our final hope. We need their permission to leave this world. Without it, we are trapped here, forever waiting."

Li Wei felt a pang of empathy for the driver and the souls aboard. She realized that these were not just ghosts, but people with stories, dreams, and a desire to move on. She decided to help them.

Determined to free the departed souls, Li Wei embarked on a mission to find the living who had yet to give their permission. She visited hospitals, orphanages, and old age homes, spreading the legend of the Beijing Bus and urging the living to give their blessing to the departed.

As she worked, she discovered that many of the living had their own reasons for not wanting to let go. Some were haunted by guilt, others by love, and still others by fear of the unknown. Li Wei listened to their stories, understanding their pain, and helped them find a way to release their loved ones.

One by one, the living gave their permission, and the bus began to fill with the departed. The driver, with a look of gratitude, turned the bus towards the afterlife. Li Wei watched as the souls aboard found peace, their spirits lifted by the living's compassion.

The Beijing Bus departed, leaving Li Wei standing at the bus stop, the air once again warm and comforting. She realized that the legend was more than just a tale; it was a testament to the power of empathy and the importance of letting go.

As she walked away from the bus stop, Li Wei felt a sense of closure. She had helped the departed find their peace, and in doing so, she had also found her own. The legend of the Beijing Bus would continue to be whispered through the city's streets, a reminder of the bond between the living and the departed, and the strength of human compassion.