The Scenic Route

1

When Remus was younger he hadn't understood why his mother had left him in London. They had been sitting in the kitchen one morning, Remus was no older than five, his stomach sore from constant giggling. Then a letter came, shoved under the front door. The envelope was inky black, his mother had stilled immediately when young Lupin pointed it out. She hadn't even touched it, instead, rushing from the counter where she had been mixing up cake batter and closed all the curtains.

Everything about that day was strange, his mother had left the house almost immediately after putting on the TV, unboxing the sticky toffee pudding from the fridge and telling Remus to wait for her while she used the phone down the street. At the time the little boy had been over the moon. TV and his favourite food for hours on end, life couldn't get better.

It was pitch black outside when his mother came back, her eyes stained red and figure shaking. Remus had asked why mummy was crying. She had smiled at him, licking her thumb and wiping away some biscuit from the corner of his mouth.

"Mummy's not sad, my star, she just missed you. She'll always miss you when she's gone." Remus had smiled a toothy grin and giggled.

"Silly Mummy! I'll never leave you, never!" Hope had laughed too, but it was emptier and tearful. She tucked a hand around Remus' small head and rested her chin on it.

"I know, my love, I'm sorry."

Slam.

Remus pulled the driver's door shut and rubbed his eyes. The sun had just begun to set. A dark blanket of grey clouds lay over South-East England. He paid no mind to it as he shoved the key into the ignition, his old birthday charm jingled as the car engine roared to life. Remus took one more look at the old cafe, holding his fist out the car window and lifting his middle finger. Sure, no one was actually in the cafe at the time, but he was sure the spirits of all those bloody customers would appreciate the gesture.

Richard's truck was old. He'd bought it in the sixties after graduating and had kept it with him since. It had never occurred to Remus that he should replace the tyres until the cloud looming over him finally collapsed under its weight, water smoothing out the tarmac.

By the time Remus passed the sign welcoming him into Hertfordshire, which was wounded with scrapes and spray paint, the sun had sunk deep below the hills, laying to rest for the night. The storm was more alive than ever.

Remus squinted through the sheet of water pouring over the windshield. The truck's wipers desperately slaved away, trying to clear the view of the road ahead but any attempt seemed futile. Remus began to avert his gaze from the road, looking for a turn-off point where he could spend the night.

The rain became heavier, and the truck shook against the merciless winds. Remus had been so busy trying to catch a parking spot that when he saw the figure run into the road, his features covered as he sheltered himself with a leather jacket, he stood only meters away.

Remus cursed, slamming his foot on the break, but the tires were old and the road was slick. The truck skidded and knocked the man over before finally slowing to a stop. His body lying unconscious in the middle of the M1.

***

"Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck-" Remus swung the car door open and stumbled from the driver's seat into the road before rushing towards the man lying still. He knelt beside him, and rain began to seep through his jeans and sweater vest. Was he dead? Remus tried to shake him awake.

Nothing.

Remus moved a trembling hand towards the stranger's throat, pressing his index and middle finger under the jaw. A breath he hadn't known he was holding released once he felt a gentle pulse against his shaky grip, his posture slumping.