Swapped

Book 3 Chapter 34

Khalil

I made this drive at least once a month. I went and stood on the edge of the building but I never jumped. I did go back to school and in the end I decided I wanted to be a councilor for youth. I felt like I had a lot to offer. I didn't do people. I just could not connect with them on the level I did with kids and that was okay with me. I read the bible a lot. I did find comfort in that and I started going to meetings every night or every other night. It was kind of like grief counseling but it was for people that had suffered traumatic events that they caused. Yes there is actually a group like this. Every night I sit in the back and watched people stand up and explain what fucked up individuals they were and how they wished they could change there crap. I was this pathetic. One night when I was leaving my car broke down on the side of the road. I stood there staring under the hood like this would make it magically work. After fooling around under the hood for awhile I finally got back in the car only to realize I was out of gas the whole time. I grabbed a gas can out the trunk and started walking. Before long a car slowed  down and a voice asked "You need a ride" I didn't even look over as I said.

"Nah I'm good thanks" As I said I don't do people.

"Good luck and God bless" the voice said and the car started to move along I'm not sure what made me yell "hold up" something in my being just told me to. I hurried to the passengers side and slid in.

"Changed your mind huh" she said. I looked over at her and I just stared for a second.

"Yeah thanks for the ride" I said. She smiled at me and placed the car in drive.

"No problem, I try to make it a point to help people when I see them otherwise this means nothing right" she said rubbing the cross that hung from her neck.

'You shouldn't make it a point though to pick up strangers on the side of the road. It really isn't safe" I found myself saying.

"Strangers are the only people that are nice to me" she said with a hint of sadness in her voice.

"My name is Khalil Richards and oddly enough I know exactly how you feel" I said.

"Nobody knows how I feel Khalil" she said.

"What's your name" I asked.

"I'd rather not say if that's okay with you Khalil. It seems when I divulge that information strangers stop being nice" she said staring ahead. My curiosity was peaked.

"That's funny because I usually have that problem too." She looked over at me like she was unconvinced. "Okay so are you wanted or something, on the run" I asked?

"No nothing like that" she laughed uncomfortably "I really don't like talking about myself Khalil. If you don't mind" she said focusing straight ahead on the road.

"It's weird because I don't know you but I want to talk to you. Do you get that a lot from people" I asked? She really cracked up at that.

"Most people prefer not to talk to me Khalil. I'm not a nice person, I don't do people much" she said. We passed a McDonalds and she looked at me and said "Do you mind if I grab me a bite to eat? To go of course I'm kind of starving I've been driving for hours" she said?

"Where you headed or coming from or am I asking to many questions" I said?

"You are asking way to many questions. I'm just driving it helps me think. You talk a lot Khalil so tell me about you since you like to talk so much" I tensed up immediately. Was this another reporter trying to be sneaky and ask me questions. I'd had a few approach me a few years back but it had been awhile. I got quiet and she didn't seem to notice. She ordered her food then looked at me "want something" she asked?

"Nah just some gas" I said holding up the gas can she nodded and paid for her food then pulled back off. We drove silently for awhile as she munched on fries. My knee hit her glove compartment and papers flew out. "Oh sorry" I said gathering her things and placing them back when I noticed a newspaper clipping.

"Put that back now" she said yelling at me and trying to snatch it at the same time. She swerved off the road and almost lost control of the car. I put it back as she came to a halt. "Get out please get out" she demanded. I looked at her and I recognized her pain her guilt because it was the same as mine.

"Okay but first let me give you this." I pulled out the card for the group that I attended. "It goes on every night. It won't make you instantly better but maybe one night when you are on one of your drives you can stop by. I could see the gas station from where I was "Thanks for the ride. I haven't said this to another human being in years but I actually hope to see you again." I slid out the car and walked away. Several weeks went by and I figured I wouldn't see her again but I found myself thinking of her often. Not sure why I didn't know anything about her hell I never even got her name.