Fragment in The Irresistible Urge to Write

“I don’t know why they thought I’d be more likely to listen to you.” I met her gaze in the rear mirror; watched her lashes come down in kevlar shutters over the windows to her soul.

Cutting me out long enough to school her expression into neutrality

Just like old times.

“They ran the files. You’ve rejected recruiting attempts from everyone else. I’m the last one.” Her eyes came up again. Guileless.

“And they didn’t think I’d toss you out without slowing down?” I tapped the brakes as rear of the truck in front flared red; flicked my gaze to the mirror and over my shoulder to the back.

Spun the wheel and hit the gas; rode the turbo surge out into the adjacent lane as past a triple pileup.

“I don’t think they care, at this point.”

“Huh. And here I was thinking you were a rising star in the barracks.”

“The price for doing well, Tor–“

“Is being asked to do better.” The navigation panel scrolled out in front of me, red traceries on black giving directions and hints and occasional admonishments on my driving, the last of which I ignored.

“You know why I left.”

“I know who you left me for.”

“I was tired of helping you run your own life.”

“And yet I don’t see a ring.”

“He had dreams. Plans. Ambitions.” A crooked smile. “They just didn’t happen to include me. That’s all.”

“I had dreams once. Plans. Maybe you remember.”

“You’re driving a hack cab.”

“I had dreams.”

“And you threw them away.”

“No.” I met her gaze again in the mirror. “She left me.”