Joy

Taxi!

I threw my arm in the air carelessly as I stepped in a middle of freshly melted snow. "Taxi!" I cried frantically. The yellow taxi cab came slowly around the corner. If you lived in New York City you would know how much a pain it was to get a taxi. You would call the taxi and before you could grab your luggage in time, the taxi cab was already off with another paying customer. New York was the worst when it came to public transportation; especially during the holidays.

Today out of all days I could not be late. I had this huge mandatory meeting at work. I worked at WestWood Co. as and assistant for the owner, Melissa Westwood. WestWood was a small journalism publication company for fatality accidents such as fires, earthquakes, hurricanes, car accidents, etc... If I was late, I would surely get a good scowl maybe even fired out of the job, and I could afford to be fired. I was freshly graduated out of college, and this was my first job and an independent women on her own in the big city.

I opened the taxi cab door and basically threw myself into the back seat of the cab. The rush air of the car's heat plummeted onto my face, and I let out heavy breath of cold air. I close the door and sat up fixing my long, curly red hair, that had looked like a bird's nest due to the wind. The driver looked back smiling sympathetically, for he knew what businesses was like in the big city.

"Where to?" He asked, his voice muffled from a large black scarf that he had put over his mouth after turning back around.

The driver was maybe in his early thirties and had freshly shaved hair that made him look even younger. He had sea green eyes, a pale complexion (almost like the porcelain doll from Oz the Great and Powerful,) no facial hairs and he had strong facial features. Sharp, thin nose with thick lips, and he even had amazing cheekbones. The only thing negatively noticeable thing on his face was that he had a small scar under his thick lips.

"135 Maple, Avenue." I state giving off a shiver, not being completely warmed up.

I looked outside to see the ground completely covered in pure white snow, except for the roads. They were covered in black mush and water. It was snowing lightly, but it was foggy and almost impossible to see out of the windshield. Welcome to New York winter weather.

I look back to the meter and saw the bill quickly increasing by the minute. I should have known. The prices would have increased due to the holidays. As I pulled out my wallet and noticed I only had ten dollars in cash and I was already at twenty-eight dollars and I was not even half way to work yet. I sigh and pull out the ten and dug through my wallet and found a nickel and a piece of minty fresh bubble gum.

"Sir, please stop here." I say. "I don't have enough money, I thought I did, but here is a ten-" I added but he continued to drive. I looked out the window confused.

"There is no way I'm letting you walk in that weather. Sure enough not another three blocks. Let's call it an even ten, and that piece of gum, and I'll drop you off where you need to be. Merry Christmas." He joked turning around to me as we stopped at a red light.

"That's not-are you sure?" I asked sincerely, taking his offer.

If he was offering it, and not wanting me to walk in this weather, deal. I gave him quiet chuckle. He nods, and turns back to his meter and clicks it off. I let out a sigh of relief.

"Of coarse, besides the streets of New York isn't the safest during the holidays." He says.

"Thank you sir," I say and sit back relieved.

I was glad to see there were still good people in the city. Usually, people would have kicked you out of the cab themselves if this occurred on any other day. Our light turned green, and the driver pressed on the gas peddle and the car lurched forward silently.

"I will give you my business card, call or text me after you are done with work. I will be there shortly after." He says.

"But, I will have nothing to pay you." I said to him seriously.

"It'll be our little secret, but if you insist-you can buy me a cup of coffee." He says and I nod.

"Deal." I reply smiling broadly. 

Out of the corner of my eye, I see a red pick up truck hurling at the cab at least sixty miles per hour. I gasp and yell for the drivers attention. The truck driver slammed on his brakes and the loud screeching sound, sounded like metal scratching metals rang through the streets. Before he could react, the pick up truck slammed into the back end of the cab. I burry my self into a ball but then I lurched sideways and my seat belt broke off and my head collided with the opposite side I was sitting from door, and I went into a world of darkness.