The Drive

Alex

The car hummed along the road, but the silence inside was deafening. I glanced at Emilia, seated beside me, her gaze fixed straight ahead. Her fingers deftly twirled a small, triangular piece of metal, the motion so fluid and practiced it was mesmerizing. For a child her age, the skill was impressive. Unsettling, even.

I cleared my throat, trying to catch her attention. But Emilia remained lost in her own world, the metal dancing between her fingers without missing a beat.

I swallowed, a part of me wanting to leave her be. The silence was fine, I told myself. No childish questions, just blessed quiet. But I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. This Emilia was a far cry from the bubbly girl I'd met at the house. The way she stared ahead, so intense and knowing... it was almost as if she was aware of something I couldn't see.

"So, Emilia," I ventured, attempting to break the ice. "How's school going? You like your teachers? Your classmates?"

Her responses were clipped, monosyllabic. I fought back a sigh, wracking my brain for something, anything, to draw her out.

"What about boys?" I asked, forcing a conspiratorial grin. "Any cute ones caught your eye? What's the boy situation in your grade?"

Emilia's head snapped towards me, her eyes narrowing. The frown on her face made my stomach twist.

"I'm nine," she said, her voice flat. She turned away, her disapproval palpable.

I slumped back in my seat, exhaling heavily. "Hey, I was just trying to help," I grumbled, the words slipping out before I could stop them.

Emilia rounded on me, her gaze searing. "Help? I'm a child. What did you think this was?"

I shrugged, discomfort prickling under my skin. "I don't know. Bonding, I guess? Isn't that what this is supposed to look like?"

A sneer curled Emilia's lips, the expression so jarring, so out of place on her young face that a chill raced down my spine. For a moment, I was reminded of Pennywise, that demented clown from the movie.

"You can't be with my mom," Emilia said, her voice cold and certain. "I still have a father. He's coming back."

My eyes widened, then narrowed in confusion. "Emilia, I think you've got it wrong. Your mom and I, we're just—"

"I don't care!" she screamed, the sudden volume making me flinch. "My father is better than you, a better man than you. My mom and my daddy love each other. Mommy and I are still waiting for him to come home. You can't just show up and ruin all that!"

I stared at her, words failing me. These were a child's words, but why did they cut so deep? Her eyes blazed with defiance, her small body tense with anger. She hated me. That much was clear. Had all her previous friendliness been an act?

"Emilia, I promise, I'm not trying to do anything or come between anyone," I said, my voice soft. "It's just work. Your mom is a partner..." I hesitated, the word burning on my tongue. "A work partner," I added lamely.

The words tasted bitter on my tongue, the distinction feeling flimsy even to my own ears.

"My school's just a few blocks from here," Emilia said, turning away. The metal was back between her fingers, twirling, twirling.

I swallowed hard, unease churning in my gut. How was it possible that this little girl could rattle me so badly? I snuck glances at her as I drove, taking in her profile. She didn't resemble Ava much, I realized. Which meant she must take after her father. The father she clearly believed was still alive, still coming back.

Jesus, Ava. What the hell did you do?

We pulled up to Emilia's school, a sprawling campus with manicured lawns and laughing children. Parents hugged and kissed their little ones before sending them through the gates. It was all so normal, so ordinary.

Emilia hopped out without a backward glance, melting into the crowd of students.

As she walked towards the gate, she transformed. Suddenly, she was just another child – small, innocent. It was hard to reconcile this image with the intense, almost adult-like girl from moments ago.

A teacher greeted her at the gate, and then she was gone, swallowed up by the bustling school yard.

I slumped in my seat, exhaling heavily. "That was intense," I muttered to the empty car.

Massaging my temples, I closed my eyes for a moment. The buzz of my phone jolted me back to awareness. Vivian's name flashed on the screen. I stared at it for a while, then With a sigh, I sent the call to voicemail. Time to head home, I thought. This morning had already been more than I bargained for.

***