Today, Victor had a good day, with two days of long journeys and the destination almost within reach. By evening, he would unload the truck and make his way home. His boss had promised him a bonus for his urgency, and he needed the money. The only thing holding him back was the mortgage on their flat.
Victor had never intended to work as a truck driver. He was making good money as a taxi driver. But when his wife Natasha became pregnant with twins, they had to take out a loan for a bigger flat. Now, they had to pay back the interest to the bank, and the payments were high. So, he had to switch to driving a truck, much to his wife’s unhappiness. Natasha had a bad feeling about it and didn’t want him to go anywhere. She was terrified for his safety, but Victor brushed off her concerns, confident that nothing bad could happen to him.
Trouble started as soon as Victor arrived at the garage. His partner was sick, so he had to go alone. Initially, he panicked, but then calmed down. He had driven alone before, and though the route was crowded, it wasn’t the longest trip. He could sleep in his car near a roadside cafe for one night. At least he would be well paid and wouldn’t have to share the bonus with his partner. This time, Victor went without a partner, and it turned out to be worth it. With only three hours left on the road, he would soon deliver the cargo and have a quick ride home to reassure his nervous wife. He often teased that he was lucky to have a wife without a mother-in-law, but now he realizes the value of having a mother-in-law, especially considering his own great aunt, who is unable to help him. He helps her instead, thinking affectionately of her as he drives.
Suddenly, without warning, a confused older woman stood on the road, three meters away. Victor was shocked. The highway was fast and full of cars, and this woman decided to cross here. Frustrated, he got out of the truck to scold her. But when he approached her, he noticed that she had a guilty smile on her face. She didn’t want money, but instead wanted a ride home for herself and her husband. They had been looking for someone to drive them but had no luck. Victor saw the older man sitting on the side of the road and realized they were in need of help. The village they were from was far away, and the older man was feeling ill due to a heart problem. Victor hesitated, knowing that taking them home meant he wouldn’t be able to deliver the cargo in time for a bonus. However, he couldn’t ignore the elderly couple in need. He decided to take the man home instead of going to the hospital. It was the right thing to do, even though it meant losing money and delaying his own arrival.
It turned out to be a blessing in disguise. The couple, Anna and Marve, were grateful for Victor’s kind gesture. They invited him to stay the night with them, saving him from having to find a place to sleep on the highway. They shared a pleasant evening together, enjoying a delicious breakfast in the morning before Victor continued on his way. He promised to visit his great aunt and thought fondly of Anna and Marve as he drove towards the warehouse.
But when Victor arrived at the warehouse, he was met with chaos. A petrol truck had exploded the previous evening, destroying all the nearby warehouses. Victor felt anger and frustration, banging his fists on the steering wheel. He froze when he realized the timing. If he hadn’t taken the detour to help Anna and Marve, he would have been at the warehouse unloading the cargo when the explosion happened. It was a sobering realization, and he couldn’t help but feel grateful for the elderly couple who had unknowingly saved his life.
With another reason to visit them, Victor went to their house in the village. However, he was met with disappointment. The house was abandoned, overgrown with weeds, and boarded up. Confused and unsure of what was happening, Victor checked inside the kitchen window. There, he found his box of cigarettes and a silver lighter he had left behind. It confirmed that he had been at this house yesterday. He couldn’t comprehend the situation but hurried back to his truck. The place felt eerie and urgent to escape from.
As Victor drove on the country road, troubled thoughts consumed him. He saw a bicycle rider and decided to ask for clarification. The man confirmed that the older adults he had helped were indeed Anna and Marve. Shocked, Victor asked about the couple’s whereabouts, only to learn that they had been dead for five years. They were killed by a drunk driver while returning from the market. Their foster daughter had struggled to cope with the grief and left the village without informing anyone of her destination.
The realization hit Victor, and he wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. It was impossible to deny the connection between the elderly couple he had met and his own wife’s parents. He made his way to the cemetery, unable to comprehend why he felt compelled to find their graves. He stood before two iron crosses, each adorned with familiar pictures. The faces were slightly younger versions of Anna and Marve. Their last name was Knish, the same as Natasha’s maiden name. The truth sent chills down Victor’s spine.
Eventually, Victor drove home slowly, lost in his thoughts. He wanted to ask Natasha about her deceased parents and planned to visit the cemetery again to pay his respects. The experience had shaken him to his core, making him realize the fragility of life and the importance of honoring those who had saved him.
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