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Detox from Energy Drainers

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A tired worker stands at the centre of a fast-moving conveyor belt, surrounded by faceless, robotic figures frantically pushing papers and shouting over one another. The outside world is a blurred backdrop, representing the worker's isolation. The image is minimalist, with sharp contrasts and muted tones.
Amidst the noise and chaos, one worker struggles to maintain their sanity, overwhelmed by the relentless pace of demands and the facelessness of modern life.

Trapped in the Grind 

When you reach the point where you can’t stand the thought of another soul getting on your bus—when the very sound of their Concession card beep sends a shudder down your spine and your hands start twitching as if to slam the doors shut—your body is practically begging you to step back and reclaim your space. It's your soul’s big neon "DO NOT DISTURB" sign flashing in the windscreen. It’s telling you: time to detox from these energy-sapping passengers.

I’m talking about the ones who step aboard with a smug look on their face, clutching a takeaway coffee the size of a small child, and giving you that "don’t you dare stop me from getting to my seat" glare.
Or the ones who look up at the sign like it’s an ancient scroll and say, “Is this the 5A?” while you’re staring at them, internally screaming: Yes, it’s the 5A. The same 5A you’ve taken every day for the last month.

Then there’s the real entertainment: the “BACK DOOR!” yeller. The one who slaps the door like it's a magic button that’ll transport them to Narnia. They scream it so loudly, you half expect the bus to fly off like some sort of demented broomstick, leaving behind all the chaos of reality. And you’re just there, gripping the wheel with a tight smile, praying for the peace of a silent stop.

And don’t get me started on the ones who start their journey by launching into a monologue about how their ex is a “right idiot” or how “the government’s a joke.” You didn’t sign up for this. All you wanted was a quiet shift, but now you’re trapped in a rolling confessional booth, nodding politely while your sanity slips out the window.

Then there's the one who runs to the bus like it's their last chance for survival, eyes wide, hands flailing. They reach the door, breathe a sigh of relief, and then proceed to rummage through their bag for coins, like they’re trying to summon ancient treasure from the depths of their backpack. Meanwhile, the whole queue behind them is collectively holding their breath, waiting for the tedious process to end.

By this point, it’s no longer about being a bus driver. It’s about surviving the onslaught of every loud-talking, seat-hogging, back-door-pounding, coin-juggling passenger who’s completely unaware that your soul has left the building. Sometimes, you fantasise about a bus with no passengers, just you and the open road, no one to interrupt your solitude. A peaceful, quiet route where you can drive in silence and remember what it feels like to breathe. Because deep down, you know: you’ve earned that peace.

The Bus Driver

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