In the buzzing traffic was a yellow taxi car, and inside the car was a passenger surrounded by the banalities of a tireless storyteller, the taxi driver. Eddie kept yawning intermittently as the driver continued with his seemingly endless stories.
"You know our 14 year old dog, Abbey, died last month."
"Oh dear my condolences...". He muttered nonchalantly.
"The day after she died, my 4 year old daughter April was crying and talking about how much she missed her. She prayed. She prayed to God to give her back Abbey."
"Wish I could make a prayer to end this traffic." He hummed to himself.
"So the next morning Abbey woke up."
"Sorry is this based on a movie?."
Hahaha. No it's not. It's no fiction, niether is it a miracle. Although they all think it is." Said the driver with a sudden demeaning tone. I got us a new dog. She looks just like Abbey, only she's not. She's mean."
"Okay first where did you get this dog you talk of?."
Then suddenly the driver turned to face him and asked eerily while looking into his eyes.
"Do you believe in aliens good sir?."
"I believe in a lot of things."
"And does that include aliens?."
"Well i can't explicitly say yes. But I do believe that we're not alone. And possibly we're being watched by something greater and...the IASI."
"So..rry what?." Stammered the driver.
"Yeah you heard me asshole. You didn't think I won't find out. Did you?."
A subtle smile slowly curved up on the driver's face as he coolly recomposed himself and turned to face the road once more. This time he seemed different.
"You're to keep to the confidentiality agreement Mr Murphy."
"I know that you numbskull!. Now get me the hell outta here!" He cursed.
But the driver remained calm and did nothing other than driving. It was a quiet and tensed ride. But they finally made it to his place.
"You have a goodnight Mr Murphy."
"Fuck off!."
★★★★★★
Eddie reached for his front door as he easily unlocked it and limped in. He was still fixed on making sure the door was shut when he was startled by a sudden uproar. The bulb lights in his sitting room were instantly turned on to unveil five persons whom were all beaming with heartwarming smiles. One of them, a teen girl had a cake on her hands. The cake seemed to be carved out of chocolate and the little candles on it seemed really edible. However he was more pleased with whom was holding the cake. It was he's daughter, Summer.
They all started singing and chanting a happy birthday song for him while he watched in awe and excitement.
"Happy birthday to you!
Happy birthday to youuu!."
"Fuck. Wow..guys, I...how...I dunno what to say." He was utterly speechless and baffled.
"You don't need to say anything dad. Just make a wish and blow off the lights." Said Summer.
"Yeah, make a wish Eddie." Said one of the guests whom he recognized as Katherine, his ex wife.
They'd been divorced for nearly six months but still maintained a cordial relationship. She was one of the best things that ever happened to him. But as they say, good things never lasts.
"I don't need no wish sweetheart, It's already come true." He cheerfully mumbled and blew the candle lights.
The atmosphere was filled with the euphoria and buzzing delightful sounds of Summer's music box. They all danced in parripassu with the flow and in switch of the tunes and rhymes of the songs. And after hours of drinking and partying, everyone were tipsy and most were already lost in their slumber. But he was still awake and so was Katherine.
She seemed a little bit dizzy, but still alright. He saw her sitting by the balcony of his house and silently observing the exquisite view of his garden and the humongous blue swimming pool. Where they once made love and cuddled themselves in each other's arms.
"You miss it right?."
"Huh?"
"You don't need to say anything. The look in your eyes says it all." He whispered calmly with his smoldering gaze solely focused on her.
"I have found happiness with Vadim Eddie. You should do the same."
"I know, and believe it or not am happy that you found happiness." He promptly retorted.
"What about your happiness?. Have you found it?"
"I can't be finding something I've always had. Can I?."
"Okay then Mr happiness, show me. Where is your happiness?." She softly whispered with a bittersweet smile.
"It's right there." He said pointing to his work research desk. "And there." He pointed to his daughter whom was still deep in sleep. "And here." He said lastly as he slightly raised her chin with the tip of his fingers, for her gaze to meet with his.
She whimpered as she felt his touch against her skin, his one touch which never failed to set her world on fire. It felt a streak of electric had just ran through her body as she felt butterflies in her tummy.
"Truth is...I can't sleep with you not around." He said to her, his voice so low she had to strain to hear it. "It doesn't feel right to be without you every night." His left hand threaded in her long maple brown hair, and his right hand wrapped around her.
"Eddie.. what ar..e you doin'?."
"I've missed you Katie, I still do." He says, his words a husky whisper that borne soothing music to her ears.
"You promised Eddie. You promised you'd let me be." She whimpered quietly as she tried to not look into his enchanting blue eyes.
"Is that what you truly want?. To be left alone?" He cupped her cheeks, and looked deep into her almost teary eyes, and then to her lips. Her soft succulent lips.
"Vadim loves me Eddie."
"But do you?. Do you love him?."
"I..he makes me happy. He treats me well. He respects me and my opinions." She found the words suddenly coming out.
It was no denial that her feelings for him was still very engraved in her heart. He was like a shadow, a parasite that kept taking. The kind of relationship they shared was not a pleasant one. Eddie was always too possessive, a cynic and an abuser. Not physical, but verbal. He was not the type to use his fists but his words. And it hurt her more than anything. They had known each other since college and she had confided in him. He knew her all and her most vulnerables and he exploited it. Yet she found herself wanting more of him.
"But I do respect you Katie. I might not have treated you well even though we both know it's not entirely my fault things turned out the way it did."
"Well I never felt respected Eddie!. You always made me feel less. Like I never mattered."
"Maybe it's cos you think you do. Maybe it's cos you're too afraid to see yourself in that light."
"Or maybe I just need to start afresh Eddie. We both need to. So if you really do respect me, then you should respect my decision."
"Alright I've heard you. But answer me this one question."
"What is it Eddie?." She asked nervously while looking away.
"Do you still love me?." Those words felt like a sharp arrow aimed at her heart. A surge of both panic and an entangled web of emotions surfaced within her.
"Do you?." He asks again.
"I...I..ye..."
"Mum." Someone familiar abruptly called out just when she was about to give her answer.
It was Summer, and she had just woken up from her slumber. Her eyes were a bit red and she still seemed dizzy. Everyone were against her taking alcohol, but she was too persistent that they had to give in. She was only a sixteen year old teen, but had a lot of fire in her.
"Mum we should start going, it's gettin' late."
"Yeah right sweetie, let's go." She said as she hurriedly demarcated herself from him. "Say goodbye to daddy."
"Bye dad."
"You too sweetie. Lemme escort you both okay."
"Thanks for the offer, but we're fine on our own okay." Katie promptly opposed.
"It wasn't a request Katie."
The seriousness in his tone suggested that he was bent on escorting them out, so she yielded to submission, again. He quietly led them out of the house and helped board a taxi that took them off. While he watched silently in bitterness as they all gradually dispersed and drove so far till he lost sight of them. He sighed heavily as he retired back into his house.
The night was sure to be long and although it was meant to be a happy day for him, he was not happy. The look on his face could tell a thousand different sob stories at one glance. He sat down on his sofa with the remains of the birthday cake in his hands. He sighed once more before feasting on the cake, alone.
"Happy birthday Eddie." .