A city crowded with noise and heavy traffic, people in their unbridled routine to get to their jobs on time and a traffic light that suffers something like an eternity in its change from red to green. This is the scenario that appears every day in the life of a cab driver, a man as dedicated to his profession as he is resigned to believe that there is no other movie like the one that passes in front of him every day.
Steve has driven his car in the service of many for several years, a period in which he has heard countless stories, experiences and anecdotes from his passengers. He has always been a lonely man, with a conformist countenance that does not allow him to smile with the essence of true emotion or satisfaction, behavior and personality that have allowed him to keep in his heart a strange question: What is the purpose of my existence?
This has led him to have a pessimistic and empty opinion towards the idea that "time is money", "live your life to the fullest" or "make your days count", considering that none of these can help him in any way. Many of his clients have tried to encourage and advise him in this regard, but Steve is firmly convinced that no one will change his mind, a conviction that would be put to the test with two mysterious and interesting passengers.
On a certain morning, Steve was driving his car, on those days when the shortage of clients is evident.
-I'll drive just one more block. If I don't get someone, I'll go back home.
But just at the end of this thought Steve saw a young girl, a teenage girl waving both arms to request his service. At first Steve thought about ignoring her, but then he gave up and decided to stop.
-Please, could you take me to the outskirts of the city?
Steve didn't usually make trips out of town, but he was the first customer of the day, so he just thought to ask:
-Are you of age?
-Wow, no one has ever asked me that before, but if I'm old enough to travel, I'm old enough to travel," she said.
And with this young woman's response, Steve agreed to provide the service. The young woman climbed into the back of the car, carrying a handbag and a piece of luggage. From her appearance and body language the girl seemed to be an experienced traveler, something that gave Steve some reassurance.
-How much does it cost to take me to the nearest town?- asked the young woman.
But just as Steve was about to answer, something in front of him distracted him. It was an older man who kept running and looking back as he waved his hand at all the passing cabs. Steve thought it was an emergency, and placing his car next to the man, he asked:
-Are you all right?
-Of course! But please, could you take me to the nearest town?
Obviously Steve was already busy, but before declining the request, the young woman in the back spoke up:
-I have no problem with him coming with us. I'm sure he'll want to sit in the front seat.
And before that strange answer Steve accepted, since after all they would be two passengers with the same destination, something that would reward him doubly. So, Steve placed the car next to the man, and almost in the middle of the race he was able to get into the car.
-Thank you very much, my friend. How did you know that I always like to ride in front?
All this only raised certain suspicions in Steve. They were two strange passengers going to the same place and they seemed to know each other even though they didn't say so. Steve was not a very talkative cab driver, but he was quite observant, which allowed him to keep calm. On the one hand, the young woman did nothing but sing and smile as she enjoyed the ride, while the older man kept looking forward and sometimes backward through the rearview mirror.
Once out of the city, Steve noticed that everything outside the city was different, now with more meadows and fields full of color, trees in a variety of fruits and sizes, a beautiful landscape to enjoy. Steve was about to put on some music to liven up the trip, when suddenly one of the passengers started shouting:
-STOP, STOP! STOP!
And abruptly Steve stopped the car. He thought that something bad had happened but the reality was totally different: the young woman got out of the car, and in a total emotion began to run all over the place. She sang, laughed and danced in front of that majestic space, and her shouts of excitement echoed quite specially.
While all this was going on, Steve meditated on the happiness of being able to enjoy the contact with nature, an emotion he had never cared about before. In the midst of such contemplation, the older man also quickly got out of the car, and with some haste said:
-I can't stop moving forward.
And so the man ran off ahead of her. Steve felt some frustration as one of his passengers was leaving without paying, while the young woman was still enjoying the moment. For an instant time stood still, until Steve and the young woman returned to the car and resumed their journey.
-Why did you do that?" asked Steve.
-Because that's why I'm here," answered the young woman.
And before the ignorance of a crab driver, a figure ahead of the road loomed. Again it was the older man who kept running.
-Get in, please!" and again the man assumed his role as a passenger.
-Why did you try to escape?
Steve asked.
-I'm not running away. I just can't stop moving forward," replied the man with determination and confidence.
And while this was happening, the scenery outside began to become dark and cloudy, making it difficult for Steve to drive. A heavy and copious rain made an appearance, with thunder and lightning at every instant. Steve was afraid to continue, that fear that in many parts of his life deprived him of making the most important decision: to continue. Only the impact of those two passengers made him change his mind.
The young woman was still singing and smiling with joy, and had even lowered the window glass a little so that the rain dew would wet her face a little. On the other hand, the older man kept looking forward immured by what was in front of him, although he occasionally glanced sideways at the rearview mirror with a certain melancholy. With this, Steve didn't decide to stop or turn back, and with such a view decided to keep going.
A wide, black curtain seemed to fall in front of them, revealing a landscape even more beautiful and striking than the first. They arrived at the place that seemed to be waiting for the older man and the young girl, as Steve finally understood what kind of experience he had been through. The older man said goodbye gracefully, and immediately began to run forward, while the young woman happily and excitedly kept looking around the imposing place. They both left without mentioning anything to Steve about the cost of the trip, because they themselves knew that it was the cab driver who owed them.
From that moment on Steve became a different man, someone willing to enjoy the scenery and the moments that life and time can give him. He was never again able to coincide with the young girl and the older man, who were nothing more than the life and time Steve didn't think he had. Still Steve dreams of meeting them once again, although both seem to be more present in the words and actions of this young crab driver.
THE END