Rivers of Secrets

The taxi driver was a man of routine. He knew where he needed to be at any given point in time, and he knew the shortest route from A to B. Unfortunately this meant that he had limited amounts of time to make the longer trips. People on the other side of town were always complaining that they had to wait an “eternity” before his cab arrived.

The taxi driver didn’t understand it, because he drove as quickly as he could. He wasn’t going to risk getting in trouble with the law, after all.

So when the call came in, the taxi driver was actually quite happy about it. It was a trip to the edge of town, which meant that it would be over quickly.

As he pulled into the driveway, he spotted his passenger waiting patiently outside. The man looked older than most people who called for a taxi, but he seemed like a friendly enough fellow; judging by the way the man opened up his arms and greeted him warmly as soon as he got out of his car. The taxi driver smiled back, despite himself.

“Thank you for coming out so quickly,” said the man as they shook hands. “I’m looking forward to seeing my grandson again!”

The taxi driver nodded happily as he ushered him into the car and made sure that his seat belt was fastened tightly before driving off towards their destination. In no time at all they reached their location, which turned out to be a small cafe at the edge of town. The young woman behind the counter smiled brightly when she saw them and shouted enthusiastically: “Grandpa! You’re here! We’ve been waiting for you!” She waved her hands energetically and scurried around behind the counter while they entered through the door. “Did you bring me another present? I hope it’s not just money again!”

The man laughed heartily at this and dropped his cane on top of one of the barstools with a clatter. “No no no! Money is never a present! I always bring presents for my lovely granddaughters! And… well… I brought one for your sister too, since she couldn’t make it today!” He grinned mischievously at this and glanced up at his friend before turning back to face the girls behind the counter. Both of them had gone silent now; staring at their grandfather with wide eyes and their mouths gaping open in shock. They didn’t seem angry or upset at all though; if anything they almost looked like they were trying hard not to cry tears of joy. After a few moments of silence, however, one of them finally managed to speak up in a croaky voice: “You mean… you mean you have something for our sister too? But then… then that means… you know… where she is? How can you know that? Are you… can you see her? Is she okay? Does she miss us? Does she know we love her so much?! Does she… does she want to come home again?! Please tell us grandpa!! PLEASE!! Tell us how we can get her back!! We beg you please!! We beg for mercy on our knees!! If only you have mercy on us and tell us how we can get her back again!! We love her so much and miss her so much!! She was such a wonderful girl!! So pure and innocent!! Please please please tell us how we can get her back!!! We need her back so badly!!! Tell us what we can do grandpa!! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!!" The girl suddenly stopped speaking when her legs gave out beneath her and she collapsed into a sobbing heap on top of the bar table while she clutched desperately onto fistfuls of her grandfather's shirt while tears streamed down her cheeks unchecked by her hands. Her sister rushed over beside them and joined in on embracing him tightly while adding her own pleas for help into their passionate cries against this horrible injustice which had befallen their family since losing their youngest sister two years ago; not knowing whether or not she was still alive somewhere or if she were dead already but desperate for answers anyways even if it meant digging up some old bones from some river somewhere...