Changes

"Are you following me, miss? I saw you looking at us while we were having our coffee," said Taylor to the young woman.

"I don't want to be invasive. I heard you talking about your graduation and where you're from. You are Americans, aren't you?" said the woman.

"Yes, we graduated two months ago, and we decided to travel through Europe before going home and starting adult life; you know, looking for jobs, etc."

"About the graduation, I don't know much because I didn't go to school. I did, but not university, you know what I mean."

"My name is Lydia, by the way. It is nice to meet you."

Taylor looked at Lydia with a curious face and raised her eyebrows before asking, "You speak very good English, Lydia. Have you travelled a lot? Have you lived outside Italy?"

"I had my share," said Lydia to Taylor.

"And what about your friends? What are they going to do once you are back in the US?"

"We're all going to do the same—find something to do and do it for the rest of our lives." Taylor shrugged and smiled at the same time.

"We come from different parts of New England, and I don't know how often we will see each other once we are back, but we are trying to enjoy the trip for now."

Taylor felt that even though the woman was invasive and asking a lot of personal questions, it was very easy to talk to her. They were at a gas station between Santo Egidio Airport near the city of Perugia and the town of Assisi, where they were going to spend some nights before going to Germany. As long as she did not ask something that could compromise their safety, it was okay to try to be friendly with her.

"I like to practice my English, and you seemed like a very nice person, so I thought, why not? I don't want to be invasive. It's nice to see the world from someone else's perspective when you are not capable of living those experiences on your own."

"What did you study at university, Taylor?" asked Lydia.

"Computer science. You know, computers have a major role in our lives these days, and I thought I could make a difference in my field of work one day."

"When I enrolled, I thought that was the right choice."

"And are you happy with the choices you made in your life?" asked Lydia.

"A girl has to make a living. Why not with the most important thing of our generation—computers?"

"It is not what I meant," replied Lydia.

"I am asking about sports or extracurricular activities you have done, like singing or ballet. You never thought of pursuing a career out of any of those simpler things than computers?"

Taylor started to be a bit uneasy with all that questioning. From the beginning of the conversation, she was standing in front of the sink and mirror to see if her makeup needed any fixing. She tried to rush herself and get back to Morgan and Adam.

"I meant, why not try something you could make a living from, and love what you do, instead of studying something because you could make more money? What do you think?"

"Do you know what? My friends are waiting for me, and it is time to do our check-in." She threw the paper towel in the bin and tried to force her way, walking towards Lydia.

"I am sorry, Taylor. I am curious because I had to do something I did not like. It took me a lot of time to get used to cleaning other people's mess."

"What do you mean? Working in a petrol station is that complicated?"

"Not at all, but that is one of my jobs. But it is enough about me."

"Sorry, Lydia, but we have to go. It was very nice ‌talking to you."

"It was my pleasure, Taylor. I hope you will find what you are looking for in your travels."

Lydia got out of the way, smiling at Taylor, holding the door open for her.

Lydia turned around to face the mirror, holding the edge of the sink with both hands. Not long after that, she heard Taylor calling for her.

"Lydia, Lydia, come here, please." No answer.

Taylor looked around and saw no one. The petrol station bar was empty, and she panicked. Going back to the toilet, she tried to call Lydia one more time with no success.

Opening the toilet door, she didn't see anyone. Taylor turned around and ran to the exit, but the double door did not open. She held the handle with both hands and tried to force it open to look outside.

All she could see was a group of people looking towards the freeway and gesticulating. She could not see the rental car that she and her friends were travelling in. Her head was spinning, but she could not make any sense of it.

More people were gathering outside, and she tried to force the door open one more time, being successful this time.

Looking into the distance, she saw Lydia in the middle of the gathering.

"Lydia, what is happening over there? Lydia!" She shouted, and then Taylor ran in her direction.

Stopping to catch her breath, she rested both hands on her knees. When she looked back up, she could not see her again. Coming closer, Taylor saw two police cars a couple of hundred meters away, blocking the traffic.

People were mumbling about what happened. It seems it was an accident involving a truck and a car. The truck driver had braked in the lay-by that leads to the petrol station to avoid hitting the car in front of him, but unfortunately, the car behind hit the rear of the truck, with three mortal victims.

Taylor ran to see the accident, but the police officers stopped her.

It came to her mind what Lydia told her about her choices and life, and for the first time, she felt insecure about her all-planned future.

The police officer let her go, and she took the opportunity to run and check the car. Her heart froze seeing the rental car they were using, all smashed, and inside, the three bodies without movement.

When she finally came to a halt, Taylor felt someone holding her hand. When she turned to check who it was, she saw Lydia.

Everything went black.

"Taylor, wake up, girl," she heard Morgan calling her from the front passenger seat.

"Yeah, wake up, sleepyhead," said Adam. "What about we stop at this gas station to have a coffee before we arrive at Assisi?"

Taylor saw the truck signaling to enter the petrol station, and she thought about her dream and the choices the strange woman told her about.

"Do you know what? Let's have this coffee when we arrive at the hotel."