Never sleep, Never wake

“Ya’ know, they say this city; it never sleeps.”

 

She tapped the ashes off her cigarette and gazed up at the neon lights above,

“but I’m just praying’ one day i’ll wake up.”

 

I looked her over, watching her as she adjusted the shoulder strap of her dirty tank top while shifting her weight to her right leg.

She couldn’t be older than 17.

When she asked me for a cigarette outside the gas station I reluctantly obliged, but now she stood beside my car as I filled the tank. It was unnerving having a stranger sit by you like they’re your friend.

 

“Where ya’ headed?” she asked softly. I noticed her voice was shaking.

 

“Upstate,” I lied whilst I closed the gas cap. “gotta get going now though.. Uh. Stay safe.”

 

“Can I bum a ride?” she proposed, cupping her hands together somewhat innocently.

 

I hesitated, racking through my brain to find the most polite way to reject her.

 

“... Just up the street; not far from here,” she meekly stated, clearly attempting to up her odds. “Please?”

 

Something about the desperation in her voice, the fear in her eyes made it impossible to say no. Five minutes later I’m driving down the highway, this young girl in the passenger seat.

She stares out the window watching the blur of the city fly by her. Awkward silence.

 

“Are you alright?” I ask, tilting my head towards her direction.

Out of the corner of my eye I see her glance my way, after a moment she turns to face the window again.

 

“Yes..” she says simply, shutting down all possible conversation.

 

“Okay then,” I internally groaned in my thoughts.

It begins to rain, the water pouring down my windshield looks like blood in the red glow of a stop light.

 

Silence.. Silence but the rain pattering on the car roof.

 

I reach my fingers on the lever behind the left side of the wheel, tugging it up. I hear the windshield wipers squeak, the girl stirs.

 

“This is my turn, It’s a left from here.”

 

I nod, I’m now driving down a dark street over a railroad track past dark warehouses with shattered windows. I’m beginning to feel a little uneasy.

 

“How much further? I need to get on my way…”