Dechen's Guilt
Dechen's hair swayed gently as the bus hummed along. Golden fringes highlighted her sparkling eyes, and a lone dimple graced her cheeks. The chill of the air brushed her crimson lips, adding a shiver to her already cold frame. Beside her, a man's occasional glances broke the monotony of the journey, stirring a mix of curiosity and discomfort within her. Lost in thought, Dechen pondered the sun's boundless energy, the birds' cheerful melodies, and the mysteries of the cosmos. Her contemplation was abruptly interrupted by the sound of a young girl's cry, sparking a cascade of thoughts about the cause of her distress. The momentary distraction of two men roaring past on a tractor, their shouts piercing the tranquility, snapped her back to reality. A sharp cry of pain jolted Dechen from her reverie. The safety pin from her muffler had come undone, pricking the man next to her. Apologizing profusely, she felt a wave of dizziness from the bus's relentless bumps. The m...