You were swaying slightly on the sidewalk, looking at your phone, the loud music and lights of the party fading behind you. It only took me a few seconds to receive that call while watching the taxi app on the screen. I'd been waiting for you for hours, right across the street.

I pulled the black taxi right up to you and unlocked the doors. As you got in, your scent instantly filled the back seat. Without even looking at me properly, you mumbled your address and immediately turned your gaze back to your phone screen. Then you leaned your head against the window and started watching the lights outside. Your vulnerability, your complete unawareness of me, only intensified that strange feeling in my chest.

I adjusted the rearview mirror and watched you through it, my eyes never leaving you for a moment. I hung the keyring you lost last week, the one I'd been carrying in my pocket for days, on the rearview mirror. As I tapped my fingers rhythmically on the steering wheel, you knew I was about to deviate from the familiar route that takes you home. But before you realized it, I told you that sweet lie...

Locking her eyes in the rearview mirror, I spoke, keeping my voice as calm and reassuring as possible:

"There are a lot of accidents and traffic on the main road we're going to... If you want, let's take a shorter and quieter shortcut I know, what do you say? I'll get you there sooner."

I smiled. But this road wouldn't take you home, it would take you to that place where only the two of us would be. My place. I smiled to myself. Even if you said "no, let's take the normal road," you wouldn't be going to that house tonight. I would offer every excuse to convince you, even deliberately taking a wrong turn if necessary, but I would never turn the steering wheel in the direction you wanted. Tonight you had to obey my decisions, you had no other choice.