The rain poured relentlessly, drumming heavy drops against the windshield. But Ethan Parker didn’t pay it much mind, only flicking on the wipers to keep the road visible. He was rushing to pick up an important client for his rideshare job. His mind kept circling back to what he’d achieved in life. Frowning, Ethan couldn’t even recall many happy moments. Working as a driver, he constantly faced the sharp, disapproving glare of his boss.
The boss, for some reason, took an instant dislike to him and assigned him a beat-up car. Stopping at a traffic light, Ethan thought to himself, “Why didn’t I choose another career? I wouldn’t be stuck driving and catering to everyone.” The light turned green, and he pressed the gas.
But then he heard a knocking sound from under the hood. Sure enough, the suspension was on its last legs, and they’d probably blame him for it. They’d pin everything on him and make him pay for this junker.
No, Ethan definitely didn’t want that fate, but he felt powerless to change it. He wasn’t from Chicago and hadn’t yet made the connections he needed in the city. Gloomy thoughts kept gnawing at him. He even recalled how the dispatcher often gave the best rides to favored drivers, leaving him with low-paying fares. The unfairness weighed on Ethan, making him question the choices that led him here.
He was an orphan, after all, and in every situation, he could only rely on himself. After passing two more intersections, Ethan considered turning into an alley to cut his route short. But suddenly, a pregnant young woman darted in front of his car. She deliberately waved her arms, as if falling, blocking his path.
Ethan muttered a quiet curse. “Is she crazy? Does she have a death wish?” He couldn’t fathom why this stranger would risk her life by nearly throwing herself under his car. Jumping out of the driver’s seat, he shouted at her again:
“Are you trying to get yourself killed? I’m rushing to a job, and my boss will have my head if I’m late. Couldn’t you use the crosswalk?”
The woman slumped heavily onto the curb and burst into tears. Ethan realized he’d been too harsh—she was pregnant, and who knew what kind of hurry she was in? What if she was about to go into labor? That would be a disaster.
A flurry of thoughts raced through his mind, and to make up for his outburst, he offered to help her into his car:
“Come on, you’ll get soaked out here. This rain isn’t letting up.”
Once she settled into the car, the woman gave him a strange look. Ethan felt a chill under his shirt, as if he hadn’t just rescued a person but a ghost. Pushing aside those unsettling thoughts, he extended his hand and said:
“I’m Ethan. I drive for a rideshare company.”
Her response was the last thing he expected:
“I’m Sarah, a former convict.”
A cold shiver ran down Ethan’s spine, stronger this time, like he’d been doused with ice water. A wild thought flashed through his mind: “What a passenger I’ve picked up—couldn’t make this up.” Sarah noticed the tremble in his hands and quickly reassured him:
“Relax, I’m just a former inmate. It’s not a big deal, unless you have a problem with women being in prison.”
“No, not at all,” Ethan replied nervously. “I didn’t even think about it. Life can throw all kinds of curveballs, and no one’s immune. I can’t even say what’ll happen to me tomorrow.”
The pregnant passenger placed a hand on his shoulder and said calmly:
“I’m no psychic, so I can’t tell you what tomorrow holds, but I’m sure your life’s about to change soon.”
Sarah’s words caught Ethan off guard. He suddenly thought that tomorrow—or the day after—his boss would find some excuse to chew him out. That would definitely mark a new chapter, one without money or maybe even a job. As he mulled this over, Ethan’s childhood crept into his thoughts.