So my girlfriend and I (both 23 M/F) are currently on a round world trip, taking a break from medschool hectics. Yesterday we were sitting in a bus going back from a hike, we were turned around by rain and lightning and I had a bad feeling about continuing so we decided to go back.
We got onto a bus taking us back into town, it was going to be a 45 minute ride so we just zoned out and relaxed after a strenuous ride. We passed a bit with train tracks, it was green so we continued. Out of nowhere we hear this LOUD honk, extremely loud. The bus chauffeur froze with the bus just passed the middle of the train tracks. I look to where the sound is coming from and see a freight train approaching, from the quick look I took I could see it had no room to stop.
Everything slowed down, it was very quiet in the bus, besides the honking and the sound of the train squeaking as it tried to stop. I regained power over my body, half stood up and yelled ‘GO GO, DRIVE!!’, as soon as I started yelling my girlfriend and other people joined me in screaming at the bus driver to do something. It feels like an eternity passed before we suddenly jumped forwards, the bus driver sped off. In the meantime I didn’t dare to look to my left, I was already counting the seconds before impact and preparing to push me and my girlfriend forwards (to the front of the bus, that was already ‘on the other side’) and thinking about how to keep my body and hers safe. I don’t know squat about healthcare where we are nor if there even is a hospital equipped to deal with this many injured.
As the bus shot forwards there was a sigh of relief. The passengers all looked pale, my girlfriend was shaking and pale and I hugged her. The rest of the bus ride took place as if nothing happened (?) and it was very quiet.
This is always my fear when crossing train tracks, I always check 15 times before driving/cycling over.
Anyway this was yesterday and I nearly forgot it happened at all. We haven’t really talked about it besides joking that it’s to add spice to our travel plot.
I am not bothered by it at all, it was just so strange? Like we almost died, l o l? And I feel nothing?
Anyway that’s my story. Maybe someone has some words of advice or whatnot. I feel like a psycho for feeling nothing.
Comments
Believe it or not this is a pretty standard response to situations like yours. Our brains don’t like to remember traumatic events, and situations where you’re about to die are included in that. The brain will try to normalize what happened as a defense mechanism against having a breakdown about it, it’s pretty handy short-term but it’s also what causes a lot of people to have to deal with their traumas years down the line if the trauma is extreme enough
As for the actual situation, that’s really scary, and I’m glad you guys are alright. Props to you for unfreezing so quickly and saying something
Just resilient to stressful situations!! Or maybe a bit in shock 😅 Glad you’re ok though. Not to be nosy but the bus just stopped on the tracks?? There’s no gate?