THIRTY-TWO

Kian was making his way through the rows of parked cars in the dimly lit underground parking lot. He had just finished a long day at work and was looking forward to getting home. As he walked, he heard the sound of a car honking, and he turned his head to see where it was coming from.

He noticed a car parked in a nearby spot with the driver's seat facing him. It was Abby's car. She was sitting in the driver's seat, looking out of the window. As soon as she spotted Kian, she honked her car horn and greeted him.

"Good day sir," she called out to him.

Kian raised his hand in greeting and approached her car. "Hey Abby," he said. "Are you waiting for Lyra?"

The underground parking lot was dimly lit, with overhead fluorescent bulbs flickering intermittently. The concrete walls were stained with tire marks, and the floor were littered with discarded pieces of trash. The smell of gasoline and exhaust fumes lingered in the air.

The parking spaces were narrow and cramped, with white lines indicating where each car should be parked. The space between the cars was barely enough for a person to walk through. Some cars were parked haphazardly, with one tire on the line, and others are parked diagonally, taking up two spots.

There were pillars scattered throughout the lot, supporting the weight of the building above. They were scuffed and scratched, evidence of countless cars brushing against them. There were signs on the walls indicating where the stairs and elevators were located.

The only source of natural light came from the entrance and exit ramps, which lead to the street above. The sound of car engines and tires screeching can be heard faintly from outside.

Abby shook her head. "No, Lyra was hospitalized," she said.

Kian's expression changed immediately to one of concern. "What happened?" he asked, walking closer to her car.

Abby explained that Lyra had been in an accident. Kian asked if it was serious.

"No, it's not too bad," Abby assured him.

Kian breathed a sigh of relief. "Did they take her to a good hospital with good facilities?" he asked.

Abby nodded. "Yes, she's in a good private hospital nearby," she said.

"Okay," Kian said. "Well, take care of her, okay?"

Abby smiled. "Sure, I will," she said.

Kian gave her a small wave before turning around and continuing towards his car.

Abby watched as Kian's car drove off, feeling a wave of regret wash over her. She had just blurted out to Kian that Lyra was in the hospital, and now she felt like she had made it public knowledge. She slapped her mouth in frustration, feeling like a tattletale. "Abby, why not just announce it on the radio?" she muttered sarcastically to herself.

As she looked around the underground parking lot, she noticed that it was relatively empty. A few cars were parked here and there, but most of the spots were vacant.

Abby leaned her head back against the headrest and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. She felt a knot in her stomach

She took out her phone from her pocket and sent a text message to Lyra.

She typed "Hey Lyra, I'm heading to the hospital soon. Do you need me to bring you anything?"

Abby's fingers moved swiftly across her phone's screen as she composed the text message to Lyra. The tips of her fingers tapped on the virtual keyboard, producing a soft clicking sound with each keystroke. Her eyes remained focused on the screen as she typed, her mind fully engaged in the task at hand.

The sound of the clicking keys seemed to echo in the quietness of the room, punctuating the silence as she waited for Lyra's response. Her fingers remained poised on the screen, ready to continue the conversation as soon as Lyra replied.

She pressed send. She put her phone back on the passenger's seat, turning on the ignition.

The sound of the engine turning over filled the car as the dashboard lit up. The engine was quiet at first, a low hum that barely registered. But as she pressed down on the accelerator, the engine roared to life, growling like an angry beast.

She paused for a moment, enjoying the sound of the engine and the vibrations it sent through the steering wheel. She turned the key a little further, and the sound of the engine grew louder. The car shook with the power of the engine, and she could feel the vibrations in the seat of her pants.

As she adjusted the mirrors and buckled her seatbelt, the engine continued to purr and growl. She shifted into reverse, and the car began to back out of the parking spot. The sound of the engine changed slightly as she moved, a rhythmic chugging that filled the car with a sense of motion and energy.

Abby shifted into drive and pressed down on the accelerator, and the car surged forward with a burst of speed. The engine roared as the car raced down the road, the sound growing louder as she gained speed. She smiled to herself, enjoying the thrill of the ride and the power of the engine.

As she drove down the road, the sound of the engine filled the car, a constant growling and chugging that seemed to push her forward. She turned up the radio to drown out the noise, but the sound of the engine was still there, a powerful reminder of the car's potential and her own sense of adventure.

A few moments later, her phone buzzed in her Abby quickly took it and saw that Lyra had replied.

"Don't come over b, I just left. Had something urgent to see to. You can come by tomorrow though," read the message. Abby sighed in relief, glad that Lyra was okay and that she didn't make the trip to the hospital for nothing.

Abby typed back, "Okies, please take care of yourself," and sent the message.

As she drove, Abby keeps thinking about Lyra and decided to call her instead. She pulled over to the side of the road and dialed Lyra's number. After a few rings, Lyra answered the phone.

"Hey Lyra, what's going on? Are you okay?" asked Abby, her voice filled with concern.

"I'm fine Abby, just had to take care of something important," replied Lyra, her voice sounding tired.

Abby could hear the fatigue in her friend's voice and decided not to push further.

"Okay, well I'm glad you're alright. Do you need anything?" she asks.

"No, I'm good for now. Thanks for checking in though," Lyra thanked

"Of course, I'll come by tomorrow to see you. Take care of yourself, okay?"

"I will. See you tomorrow," Lyra replied before ending the call.