Taxi

Azriel’s passenger is a girl in her twenties. She huddles in the back seat and asks in a quiet voice for a ride to the bedroom district of the city. - How was your day? — Wanting to start the “interrogation” as harmlessly as possible, the driver asks. The girl swallowed nervously and squeezed herself harder into the seat. - It’s okay… — she whispered. - Are you afraid of something? — Asriel asked anxiously. The girl remained silent, staring at the back of the driver’s seat. - Are you afraid of me? — The cab driver shared his hunch. - Yes… — the passenger sobbed. - Don’t! I’m a cultured man. I don’t offend anyone, — Azriel assured her. The girl looked at him hopefully and took a more relaxed pose. The man smiled warmly. - Why are you afraid of me? — The driver asked. - I grew up in a very strict family. My mother died many years ago. Since then, my father has become very rude and withdrawn. And my brother was not known for his manners,” she said sadly. - Did they hurt you? — Asriel asked anxiously. - Sometimes… But every day I lived in fear,” she said. - Do you live with them now? — the cab driver inquired. - No. As soon as I turned eighteen, I rented an apartment. Since I was fourteen I’ve been working and saving for it. The apartment is small, of course, but I’m happy with it,” the girl said. - Good for you. Good luck. By the way, we made it, — said the driver smiling. - Thank you! Goodbye! — she exclaimed, jumping out of the car. Asriel looked at the girl, and his broad smile was replaced by a grimace of pain. He often met people like that. Their fate touched the cab driver. He knew that everyone experiences the past in different ways. Some let it go, others shut themselves away. Azriel saw in the passenger a childishly pure soul and he felt sorry for this nice looking girl. He hoped that everything would be all right for her now.