In the quiet hours of a late-night shift, a driver arrived at an address, honked the horn, and waited. With no response, the driver honked again and considered driving away since it was the last ride of the shift. Instead, the driver parked walked up to the door and knocked. A frail, elderly voice answered, “Just a minute,” followed by sounds of something being dragged across the floor.
After a long pause, the door revealed a small 90s woman dressed like someone from a 1940s movie. She stood beside a small suitcase in an apartment that appeared untouched for years. The furniture was covered with sheets; no clocks, knickknacks, or utensils were on the counters.
“Would you carry my bag to the car?” she asked. The driver took her suitcase to the cab and returned to help her. As they walked to the curb, she thanked the driver for his kindness. “It’s nothing,” the driver replied, saying passengers are treated the way the driver would want his mother to be treated.
Once in the cab, she provided an address and asked, “Could you drive through downtown?” She was okay with the longer route. “I’m on my way to a hospice,” she explained. She shared that she had no family left and that her doctor had informed her she didn’t have long. Moved, the driver turned off the meter and asked, “What route would you like me to take?”
For the next two hours, they toured the city. She pointed out buildings where she had once worked, neighborhoods where she had lived as a newlywed, and a ballroom where she danced as a girl. Occasionally, she would ask the driver to slow down and sit silently, staring into the darkness.
As dawn approached, she softly said, “I’m tired. Let’s go now.” They drove silently to the hospice, where two orderlies were expecting her. The driver took her suitcase to the door, where she was already in a wheelchair.
“How much do I owe you?” she asked.
“Nothing,” the driver replied.
“You have to make a living,” she insisted. “There are other passengers,” the driver responded. Almost without thinking, the driver bent down and hugged her. She held on tightly and said, “You gave an old woman a moment of joy. Thank you.”
The driver squeezed her hand and walked into the dim morning light. The driver did not pick up any more passengers that shift, instead driving aimlessly, lost in thought. Life often revolves around great moments, but the small, beautifully wrapped moments truly matter. People may not remember exactly what was done or said, but they will always remember how they were made to feel.
The driver had shared his experience on social media. Many people appreciated his kind work.
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