Continuation… (From Tell Eddie: The Single Rose)

For a moment, Amos reflected back on his own life and on the many women he loved before. He compared them with Linda. Who had said they love me with all their life? he asked himself. How many said I am all they have? I guess all of them. Everyone had really loved me. But have I loved them that much? What have I given back to them? A little of my time? Of my attention? Of myself? But that was the best I could give. In my mind and heart, I had truly loved them.

Amos suddenly found his thoughts in turmoil. His heart beat with every impact of rain on the window. The rhythm was lost, like broken guitar forced to sing a melody. With each collision, rainwater gently traced its way down the window, its path crooked and wavering, unguided and lost. And each drop would go to only one place – down below.

Crazy alcohol, Amos thought. Alcohol really intensifies things. Look what I am doing now? Romanticizing this meeting with a stranger!

Amos felt like hitting his head, bumping it to something solid hard to bring sanity back to it. For the last minutes, he had been thinking so hard. He loved to think, but hated himself for loving it. Was it really alcohol? Or just my damned loneliness?

“You’re silent again, Amos.”

“It’s nothing,” he shook his head and flashed a little sad smile.

The taxi was then nearing his place. They entered a narrow street, fringed with high-rise tenements. During that time, neither spoke. It was very silent for the rain had also stopped. As sudden as it had begun, the torrent ebbed.

It was silent. So when they headed for the crossing, the whirring of a coming engine was audible. With each fleeting second, the sound roared more, like lion approaching its target. They looked to their left but it was too dark to catch anything. From the same direction, headlights blinked once. Both Amos and Linda were momentarily transfixed for something large was looming at them, its barely visible shadow outlined by grey and fading light. The rumble was instantly alongside them. Linda attempted to turn right. It was too late. The vehicle knocked the taxi. Gravity pulled them from the right. Amos felt a full swing. Suddenly, they slammed into a wall. In a fraction of a second, he felt another strong impact. The taxi was pressed on the wall.