Eli drove back toward his apartment as the city slowly settled into itself. The rain had stopped long ago, leaving the streets dark and quiet, broken only by the sound of passing cars and the low hum of traffic somewhere far off. It was the kind of night that made you think without trying to.
He'd driven thousands of people over the years. Loud ones who treated the cab like a confessional. Quiet ones who never looked up from their phones. Couples who argued. Couples who held hands in silence. Most faces blurred together after a while.
Tonight felt a little different-but not in a dramatic way.
There had been something about that woman. Not her silence alone-he'd had silent passengers before-but the way she carried herself. Calm. Watchful. Like she was somewhere else even while sitting in his cab.
Probably nothing, he told himself. Just a strange passenger on a long night.
He parked near his apartment building, grabbed his bag, and headed inside. The hallway smelled faintly of cleaning fluid and old carpet. Familiar. His place was small but lived-in-one bedroom, a tiny kitchen, and a couch that had clearly survived better years.
He dropped his keys on the counter, kicked off his shoes, and reheated leftover pasta. It wasn't great, but it was warm. He ate straight from the bowl, standing by the counter, scrolling aimlessly.
His phone buzzed.
The fork paused midway to his mouth as the screen lit up again.
(Lil Sis)
A small, unguarded smile tugged at the corner of his lips, the kind that arrived before thought could interfere. The weight of the day loosened in his chest, just a bit, and he wiped his fingers on a napkin before picking up the phone-careful, as if answering her call might spill something warm he wasn't ready to name.
"Hey, Lily," he said.
"Hey, Big bear," pausing for a brief moment trying to settle down comfortably on the messy bed scattered with fashion magazine, "How much did you rob today?" she added.
Eli replied with a loud but brief laugh, "Enough to keep the cops off my back for now."
Lily's tone changed for a moment lasting not too long, almost a quiet pressure off her head "So Mrs. Karen finally settled it, for how much?"
"Doesn't matter. She deserves those every cents being the best at nagging." Eli shrugged it off not wanting to make her worry.
"Old cow" She muttered under her breath.
Eli smiled quietly, letting her off for that one.
Their banter went on lightly-nothing heavy. Her classes, a design she was working on, how exhausted she was but how she loved it anyway. She sounded the same as always: driven, hopeful, stubborn in the best way. Eli smiled more than he realized.
After the call, he cleaned up, took a quick shower, and collapsed onto his bed.
Sleep came easily, but not before his thoughts wandered-his sister chasing her dream in another town, his mom living her own life now after the divorce, his dad's quiet absence still lingering in small habits he hadn't shaken. Muffin too, probably curled up somewhere near Lily's feet.
And just like a passing wave of breeze the girl just a few hours ago crossed for a second. "She was pretty, " all he muttered in his mind almost involuntarily.
Life wasn't perfect.
But it was steady.
Morning arrived the way it always did-alarm buzzing, sunlight pushing through the curtains, the city already awake. Eli showered, grabbed toast, and headed out.
Campus was alive with motion. Students cutting across walkways, arguing about deadlines, complaining about professors, pretending they weren't already late. Eli blended right in.
"Yo, Eli!"
He turned just in time for Jake to bump fists with him as they passed.
"Still alive, taxi king?" Jake grinned.
"Barely," Eli said. "City's trying to kill me one passenger at a time."
A few steps later, Sam appeared, flanked by Mira-sharp-tongued, stylish, and very aware of it.
"Nice shirt," Mira said, eyeing Eli. "Very 'guy who owns exactly three of them.'"
Eli smirked. "Says the person who dresses like every hallway is a runway."
She scoffed, but smiled anyway. "Careful. I could ruin your reputation."
"With who?" Eli shot back. "My professors?"
Sam laughed. "Both of you are idiots."
They walked together for a bit, talking about classes, bad cafeteria food, and someone who'd slept through a midterm. It was easy. Familiar. The kind of routine that made days blur together in a good way.
"Hey," Sam said suddenly, stopping near the steps. "You busy tonight?"
Eli shrugged. "Not really. Why?"
"My dad's throwing a party," Sam said. "Business thing. Food, music, people pretending they're important. You should come."
Eli raised an eyebrow. "That sounds exhausting."
"Free food," Sam added.
Eli sighed. "You drive a hard bargain."
"I'll text you the details," Sam said, already walking away.
Eli watched him go, then headed toward class. His mind flicked-briefly-to the night before. Not intensely. Not emotionally. Just a quiet curiosity.
Then it passed.
He had lectures to sit through. Shifts to work. A life that made sense.
And no idea how easily that balance could be disturbed.