Jacob's last ride

Jacob’s Last Ride

Rain battered the windshield, a relentless curtain that blurred the road ahead. Jacob’s wipers squeaked under the strain, and the glow of the Uber app on his phone cast a pale light across the dashboard. The late-night pings had been scarce, and his exhaustion had settled into a dull ache.

When the notification chimed, he jolted.

"Pick up at 9th and Main. Rider: Celeste."

The name tugged at something deep in his mind—vague but familiar. He accepted the ride and turned onto Main Street, the rain-soaked pavement shining like glass under the flickering streetlights.

At the corner, a figure emerged from the shadows, stepping into the light. She opened the passenger door and slid in without hesitation.

“Celeste?” Jacob asked.

She nodded, water beading on her dark hair. Her features were calm but intense, as if she carried secrets too heavy to speak.

“Where to?” he asked, already glancing at the app. The address popped up: Pine Ridge Estates.

His chest tightened. “No,” he muttered.

“It’s already on the map,” she replied softly, her voice calm but firm.

Jacob hesitated. Pine Ridge was where his sister Emma lived—or used to live. Two years had passed since their argument, and the silence between them had grown like a wall. He had no desire to tear it down tonight.

“I can’t go there,” he said, gripping the wheel.

“You’ve been avoiding this road,” Celeste said, her words cutting through the rain’s din. “But you’re meant to take it.”

Her tone wasn’t confrontational, just steady, like a river carving its path. Against his better judgment, Jacob turned the car toward Pine Ridge, his stomach knotting tighter with every mile.

The storm thickened as they drove. Celeste hummed a soft, haunting melody that filled the silence. Jacob found himself oddly soothed, though the weight of unease pressed on him.

As they rounded a curve near the estate, flashing hazard lights pierced the rain. A crumpled car lay against a tree, its hood smoking.

“Stop,” Celeste said.

Jacob slammed on the brakes, the tires skidding slightly. He leapt out, the cold rain slicing through his thin jacket. A figure stumbled from the wreck, waving frantically.

“Jacob?” The voice was unmistakable. Emma.

He froze. She looked smaller than he remembered, her face pale and streaked with tears.

“Jason’s in the car!” she cried. “I can’t get him out!”

Jason. His nephew. The boy he hadn’t seen since his fifth birthday.

Jacob sprinted to the wreck, his heart pounding. The rear door was smashed inward, trapping Jason inside. The boy’s muffled cries spurred Jacob into action.

“Hold on, buddy!” he shouted, grabbing a tire iron from his trunk.

Rain slicked his hands as he wedged the tool into the mangled metal. Emma stood beside him, trembling, her breath coming in short gasps.

With a groan, the door gave way. Jacob reached in, his arms straining as he pulled Jason free. The boy clung to him, shaking and coughing.

The sound of sirens grew louder, the red and blue lights cutting through the storm. Jacob handed Jason to Emma, who wrapped him in a desperate embrace.

“Is he okay?” a paramedic asked, rushing over.

Emma nodded, tears streaming down her face. “He’s breathing. He’s okay.”

As the paramedics worked, Jacob stepped back, his knees weak. Emma approached him, her eyes filled with gratitude—and something else.

“Thank you,” she said, her voice trembling. “I don’t know why you were here, but... thank you.”

Jacob opened his mouth to reply, but the words caught in his throat. He glanced back at his car.

The passenger seat was empty.

“Did you see her?” he asked Emma.

“Who?”

“Celeste. The woman who—” He stopped, realizing how absurd it sounded.

Emma frowned. “Jacob, you were alone when you pulled up.”

He turned back to the car, rain pooling on the empty seat. A faint scent of lavender lingered in the air, elusive yet unmistakable.

As the ambulance pulled away, Jacob stood alone in the rain, his thoughts swirling. Celeste was gone, but her words lingered:

You’re meant to take this road.

He climbed back into the driver’s seat, the engine humming to life. The scent of lavender lingered as he turned the car around, heading toward the hospital to follow Emma and Jason.

For the first time in years, the road ahead didn’t feel so heavy.