The Ride
It was almost 11 PM, and Gary’s body begged for a hot shower and bed. Seven gruelling days of 12-hour shifts had left him drained, but the thought of finally travelling to Europe kept him going. It had always been his dream. The overtime pay would make it happen.
Rain streaked the windshield, faint at first. The dark road seemed endless, with looming trees that blended into the shadows. Suddenly, he saw her — a woman in a blue dress, walking alone on the side of the road. He slowed, squinting to make sure she was real.
“Hi there!” he said, rolling down the window. “Do you need a ride?” Her hair was wet, clinging to her pale face. She looked hesitant.
“I… I don’t know,” she murmured. Gary sighed. “Look, it’s raining, and it’s dark. It’s not safe to walk around here at this time of night. Let me help — I’m not some creep, I promise. It’s just a ride.” She hesitated for a moment longer, then nodded. The faint smell of rain and her perfume filled the car when she stepped inside.
“Where to?” he asked. “Third left,” she murmured. “My kids are waiting.”
The rain picked up, pounding against the car. She stared out of the window without moving. Her silence made Gary feel uncomfortable. He glanced at her now and then, feeling a prickling unease creep over him, the kind that made you glance over your shoulder even when you knew no one was there.
When they reached the turn, she whispered, “It’s here. Please pull over.” She stepped out into the dark without another word.
Gary watched her disappear into the shadows. Something about the whole thing unsettled him, but he shook it off.
At home, he slumped onto the couch with a beer and flicked on the TV.
“A mother of two was found dead in her car earlier tonight,” the announcer said. “The accident occurred at 8 PM on County Road 7.” Gary felt the beer slipping from his hand, his chest tightening as the room spun. Her face filled the screen — the woman in the blue dress.
He felt a vast sadness envelop him, thinking about her last words: “My kids are waiting.”
