He’d never known his parents. He ended up in foster care as a toddler, one of the youngest kids in the system. There was no love to be found there. The foster parents were often gone all day, leaving the kids unsupervised. That’s where Ethan learned to survive on his own, trusting no one. He had almost no friends, mostly because his sense of fairness made him an outcast among the other kids.
They loved pulling pranks and sneaking out of the foster home, but Ethan, gripped by fear, stayed behind. He never followed them.
So he never fit in with their cliques. The foster home was in a small town, and Ethan had no idea what lay beyond it. But he dreamed of breaking free from those stifling walls and going somewhere he’d be valued and loved. But where? He had no family, and if he did, they clearly didn’t care about some orphan.
The foster parents constantly told him his parents had abandoned him. After hearing that, he didn’t want to get close to anyone. The desire to be loved? Just childish fantasies.
While the state still supported him, Ethan trained to be a driver and got his license. Even then, he knew it would be his livelihood. He saw no other prospects.
From that small town, he soon moved to Chicago. His plan was to find work and establish himself in the city. Ethan went through dozens of job applications to get hired. He only found work with a rideshare company, where his boss, Robert Johnson, turned out to be an arrogant, condescending man. Housing worked out, though—Ethan found a cheap apartment on the city’s outskirts.
But his strained relationship with his boss constantly grated on him. Not a day passed without Robert nitpicking for no reason. Sometimes Ethan felt like he was either the center of attention or just an outcast.
There seemed to be no way out unless he quit. But Ethan wasn’t ready to give up and decided to prove his worth through his actions. Once, in front of the company director, he even suggested ways to improve efficiency.
The conversation was about buying new motor oil, and Ethan jokingly said he knew as much about it as a pro. The director praised his initiative, but Robert held a grudge. After all, it wasn’t he who got the spotlight. Now the director wouldn’t hold him up as an example to others. But Robert couldn’t do much about it.
Especially since Ethan had become almost buddies with the director. Still, Robert took note and waited for a chance to settle the score. But Ethan worked so skillfully that he gave no reason for reprimands.
After today’s ride, though, who knew what might happen? His boss hadn’t smirked for nothing when sending him on this call. Shaking his head, Ethan snapped out of his memories and glanced at his passenger.
“No secret, but how far along are you?”
“Almost due, past the seventh month,” Sarah replied with a smile.
Ethan stopped at another traffic light.
“I’ll probably never have kids. I’m all alone and still haven’t found the right person. And I doubt I ever will, since I’ve stopped trusting people.”
“You’ve got time,” she said. “You just have to believe. If you want to, you can change your life. I can see you’re a good guy, but too trusting. That’s what draws people to you. You just don’t notice it and think everything’s passing you by.”
“Maybe you’re right, and I do need to change something,” Ethan shrugged.
Sarah quickly said she’d pay him for the ride but needed to get to an address. She gave him a street and house number. Ethan shook his head and muttered:
“Forget it, you don’t owe me anything. I get it, you’re broke. You know how many passengers like you I’ve had?”
“No. What’s that got to do with it?”
“They all say, ‘Wait, I’ll grab some cash and pay you.’ But once I drop them off, they’re gone in a flash. No, you’re not fooling me, and there’s no need. I won’t take your money. I’ll drive you for free.”
Sarah lowered her head and whispered:
“I’m not a beggar, if that’s what you’re thinking. Yes, I spent a lot of time in a place where you dream of freedom, but that doesn’t mean I’ve lost my humanity or can’t take responsibility. You’re wrong, and I’ll prove it to everyone.”
There she goes again, talking in riddles. Figure it out if you’ve got the patience. Ethan raised his eyebrows and jokingly replied:
“Fine, have it your way. But just so you know, I’m not taking you beyond the address you gave me. I’ve got a job, and I might not make it in time.”
Sarah nodded, and for the next half-hour, they rode in silence. Ethan focused on the road, while she stared at her lap. She wasn’t crying, but her shoulders trembled. Fixing her hair, Sarah glanced at Ethan and smiled.
He returned a restrained smile, as if wary of a sudden twist. When they finally arrived, Ethan noticed it was a bank branch. He couldn’t resist a quip:
“Hey, don’t go robbing the bank, or they’ll drag me in after you.”
Sarah waved him off and stepped out. True to his word, Ethan didn’t charge her. He let the ride go, knowing she couldn’t afford it. Pregnant and fresh out of prison—she had enough on her plate. As she walked toward the bank, he kept watching her.
Ethan stayed put, waiting to see what would happen. He half-expected sirens to wail, with police cars and ambulances screeching in. But five minutes passed—nothing but silence.
People went about their business, no alarms. Satisfied that Sarah wasn’t robbing the place, he hit the gas and drove on. But just past the next intersection, Ethan slammed his hand on the dashboard and said, “So much for that important client. He’ll complain to my boss, and I’m done for.”
He reached the VIP client late. The man said nothing, but his annoyed glance was enough for Ethan to know a storm was brewing at the office. The whole ride, Ethan stayed quiet, afraid to say a word. The client, glued to his tablet, didn’t bother talking either.