There was a sudden shift in music as Daisy adjusted the radio, tuning it to a station now playing a quiet and somewhat tender love song. The change settled slowly over the diner. A burst of laughter came from the bar, where a young couple sat chatting over a shared cigarette. Beside them stood a man in a black coat, sipping from a glass of dark beer while holding a magazine.


    Chris recognized him immediately as one of the passengers. The thought made him turn and look beyond the steamed window. Outside, the bus stood still, its engine off. The rain continued to fall steadily, collecting in rivulets that fed into the gutters.


    He leaned back, sitting stiffly in his seat. Before him, the familiar journal lay open on the table. He reached for it cautiously and pulled it closer. The entries remained exactly as they had been. One, in particular, caught his eye.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    “Harley?” he murmured.


    The name brought nothing to mind, yet a faint tingling began to spread across his cheek. Without thinking, he raised a hand to touch it. The feeling was familiar, though he couldn’t place why.


    “Would you like to hear about our specials?”


    Startled, Chris hurried to shut the journal and looked up. The sudden voice dispersed his thoughts, as though pulling him from a troubling dream. It belonged to a tidy waitress now standing beside his booth. She was in her early twenties, a bit round-faced, with a kind smile.


    “Just regular coffee would be fine,” he said, trying to steady himself. “And, uh, could you put it in one of those cups to go? I’ll take it for the road.”


    The waitress scribbled something in her notepad. “Sure. You want a regular cup, or for a little extra, you can get a bottomless one? Refills are free, so you can top it off before you head out. It’s a better deal.”


    “Yes, that would be great. Thanks.”


    She nodded, jotting it down. “Alright, that’ll be a dollar forty.”