Katya shoved her hands deep in her pockets as she walked. The cold night air seemed to push her forward, and she just let herself be rushed along. She didn't know where she was going, and she didn't care. She had just said goodbye to her best friend, Irina, and the empty city street, as cold and bleak as the far side of the moon, was no match for the emptiness in Katya's heart. Irina was moving forward in her life as a high school graduate headed for a prestigious university. Unlike me, Katya thought. I can't even imagine what I'll do next. A bus stop on the corner of the street caught Katya's attention. The bus line had been out of service in her town for years, and she couldn't remember seeing a bus stop on this corner before. I guess it's as good a place to wait as any, she thought as she sat down on the bench. She didn't know what she was waiting for. A sign to guide her into the future, perhaps. Maybe she would just sit on the park bench and wait for the sun to come up.
Suddenly, a light flashed in Katya's eyes. She turned to see a bus pulling up to the stop. The bus was painted a plain gray, and Katya could not see a company name or destination written anywhere. Instead, it seemed as dull and blank as her future. There were no passengers on the bus—only a driver looking out at her impassively. The door opened, and Katya felt a rush of wind at her back.
"Coming aboard, miss?" asked the driver. Katya felt a chill run up her spine as she stood. She climbed aboard the bus and took a seat in the back. As she looked out the window, she could see light streaking the sky to the east. The morning light traced a pattern across the sky, and the sun's gentle hands began to change the view outside Katya's window from an empty wasteland into a bustling, friendly city. No matter what happens next, it will be a fresh start. That is just what I need, Katya thought as the bus moved toward the light.
20
Which of the following is used as a symbol of hope in this story?
A. the rising sun
B. the cold wind
C. the bus bench
D. the bus driver