Driver

Part 8

For what seemed like hours Idyn held Taki while she vomited. In between retching she cried and apologised. “I’m sorry” she sobbed.

“Forget about it” he said over and over again but it had little effect as she just kept apologising. When it seemed that she had finally stopped being sick Idyn picked her up and carried her back to the car. Opening the back door he sat her down on the seat with her legs hanging out and her feet on the gutter. He crouched down in front of her “did he hurt you” he said again.

She shook her head “no. He wanted my purse. I wouldn’t give it to him.”

“Not a smart decision” he said.

That caused her to cry again.

“Sorry” he said.



 After a few moments she wiped her face with her hand. Her make-up was smeared, her hair was a mess and she looked pale under her foundation but she was still beautiful.

“We should go to the police” he said.

“What’s the point, I couldn’t tell them anything. It was dark and I can’t even remember what he looked like.”

“Still, it should be reported” he said.

“I’ll call them tomorrow” she said closing her eyes, “I can’t face it now.”

“I’ll drive you home” he said.

“No” she said without opening her eyes “I don’t want to go back there. I hate that place.”

“So where?”

“I don’t know” she said tears trickling down her face again.

“Will you let me help you?” he said.

“I thought you already did” she said opening her eyes and giving him a wry look as she wiped the tears away.

He smiled “if you go to bed without something in your stomach you’ll only end up lying awake feeling sorry for yourself. Will you let me take you to get some water and a hot drink and maybe later, something to eat.”

For a minute Taki looked like she was going to throw up again. Her hand over her mouth, she said “I can’t eat.”

He smiled “not yet” he said. “So is that a yes?”

She looked at him for a moment and then nodded. “Okay.”

“Good” he said and picking up her legs he swung them around into the car and then reaching over her, he buckled her seat belt. Out of the pocket in the back of the front seat he pulled out a disposable sick bag and opened it. It consisted of a rigid plastic rim that held open the mouth of a plastic bag attached to it. “Tell me if you’re going to be sick okay and I’ll pull over” he said as he handed her the bag.

She nodded and lying her head back on the seat she closed her eyes.

“And don’t go to sleep” he said.

“But I’m tired” she said opening her eyes to look at him.

“You won’t sleep properly yet” he said. “Stay awake or you’ll end up feeling worse.”

“It gets worse than this?” she said.

He laughed “it can and it probably will.”

She groaned “I’m never drinking again.”

He smiled, shut the door and jogged around to the driver’s side.