It was a horrific scene. As Gavin pulled over, he felt a knot tighten in his stomach; he knew this was going to be bad. The sounds of screaming and sirens filled the air, creating an eeriness he didn't like. The intersection was a chaotic mess, the expected aftermath of a serious accident. Gavin struggled to stay focused, his eyes darting across the street at the mangled cars, shaking his head in disbelief. He considered just going home for a moment but couldn't bring himself to leave. He had to stop and help. So, he pulled over.
This was not how he wanted to end his day. It had started like any other...
The workshop buzzed with activity, the sound of machines whirring and voices blending into a symphony of industry. It was early, but the hustle had already begun as customers trickled in and the team prepared for the day's schedule. Gavin, tucked away in the break room by his locker, was gearing up for another demanding day. He stowed his lunch, took a long sip of his third cup of coffee, and exchanged light banter with his coworkers. Suddenly, a loud call echoed through the room, "Fifteen minutes!" signaling that the shop would open soon. Gavin donned his shop cap, braced himself, and stepped into the front area to meet Jes, the front office manager, who was busily organizing the day's appointments as the first wave of customers arrived.
"Morning, Jes," Gavin greeted as he approached the desk.
"Morning, Gav," Jes replied with her characteristic joyous bubble, barely looking up from her computer. "Ready for another thrilling day?"
"Can't wait," he said dryly, glancing at the schedule. "Anything special lined up?"
"Same old, same old. But you know how it goes, something always comes up."
Gavin chuckled, shaking his head. "Ain't that the truth."
At 43, Gavin was the seasoned veteran of the oil change and repair shop. As the journeyman mechanic, he completed his tasks with practiced efficiency, working through every assignment with confidence from years of experience. He also took on the role of mentor to the younger team members, earning him the nickname "the old man" of the crew—a moniker he was still getting used to. This marked his seventh year in the shop, a routine existence marked by the familiar grind of work. Gavin's life was simple; divorced and single, he resided in a modest apartment near the shop. His days were long, often stretching into six-day workweeks, filled with the ceaseless rhythm of labor that kept him occupied and steadily saving money.
Gavin glanced out the window, mentally noting the first cars to work on—same old day, every day. His only respites from the dull norm were a new woman he had just started dating and a recurring, unsettling dream. About the dream. Each morning, just before waking, a shadowy figure attempted to coax him somewhere beyond the mundane routine of his life. Gavin didn't understand its meaning or destination, and it wasn't in his nature to explore the unknown in anything. So he never followed and dismissed it as meaningless, but it bothered him nonetheless. Usually hazy and unclear, the dream rarely left a lasting impression. Today, however, it offered more clarity—and included a bicycle. The addition of the bicycle intensified Gavin's sense that something significant was about to unfold. Ridiculous! He was snapped back to reality by a passing coworker's light tap on the shoulder. Gavin greeted them with a smile and resumed prepping for his day.
Taking his schedule from Jes, Gavin headed to his station, mentally gearing up for the day ahead. As always, the day flowed with its usual challenges, from intricate repairs to unexpected breakdowns, demanding his technical expertise and ability to problem-solve under pressure. The younger mechanics looked up to him, seeking both professional guidance and personal advice, tapping into his experience not just for work issues but also for their own dilemmas. This dynamic often placed him at the center of the workshop's drama, a role he reluctantly assumed while balancing mentorship and managing his workload. Drama was never his preferred aspect of any day.
As the day wore on, Gavin felt an electric tension permeate the air of the shop. Every clatter of tools, every ring of the phone seemed amplified, as if the workshop itself was holding its breath. Jes, normally composed and efficient, caught his eye with a quick nod that carried an unspoken urgency. Her usually calm demeanor now tinged with a hint of apprehension set Gavin on edge. He checked the clock more frequently than usual, his gaze darting around the bustling workshop, searching for any sign of what might be coming. Despite the seemingly normal flow of cars and repairs, an unsettling feeling gnawed at him, leaving him waiting for an unknown shoe to drop. When it finally came time to wrap up, Gavin approached the front desk where Jes was organizing the day's records, his mind still racing with unease as he reviewed the day's tasks.
Jes greeted him with a laugh as she saw the amount of grease he had accumulated from the day. "Gavin, you look like you wrestled with a car and lost," she chuckled, brushing a smudge off his sleeve. Her easy demeanor contrasted with Gavin's tense expression. As she rustled through her stack of papers, absorbed in her work, Gavin's unease lingered unnoticed.
Gavin joined Jes with an uncomfortable laugh and perched on the edge of her desk, leaving a smudge of grease on the polished surface. "Feels like it, too," he quipped, rubbing his hands on a rag. "Let's wrap this up, shall we?" His tone carried a hint of urgency, a reflection of the underlying unease he felt throughout the day.
As they went over the day's work, a young man burst in, looking frantic. "I know you're about to close, but I need to get my certificate for insurance right now."
Gavin glanced at the clock and sighed, shaking his head. "Alright, alright," he nodded and waved the young man to the shop. "Let's get it done."
Jes gave him a sympathetic smile. "Another late night, huh?"
"Seems like it," Gavin muttered, rolling up his sleeves. "Just another day in paradise."
Gavin returned to the shop and met the young man as he pulled his car into the garage. After washing his hands, Gavin reviewed the details—an oil change and some engine inspections, the standard tasks for the day. The team promptly got to work on the car.
"Let's go, everyone, I want to get out of here!" Gavin called out.
"Old man's got a date?" one of the younger mechanics teased, dripping with sarcasm. Everyone laughed and jeered.
"No, not tonight. I wish! But an old guy needs his rest. Let's rip through this so we can get out of here."
The team resumed their work on the car, while outside the garage, the customer paced anxiously, absorbed in a phone call. Gavin was determined to complete the job swiftly so they could all head home. As he concentrated on his tasks, an inexplicable urge made him look up, sensing someone calling out to him, though no sound reached his ears. Lifting his head from the car, Gavin glanced out onto the street and spotted a young man riding a bike. The late afternoon sun cast a warm glow around him, accentuating his image. Something about him caught Gavin's attention, perhaps the uniqueness of the bike. Or the bicycle.
The young man noticed Gavin's gaze and responded with a cheerful smile and wave. Gavin nodded in acknowledgment, struck by the brief but friendly interaction.
Refocusing on finishing the job quickly, Gavin worked efficiently. With the task nearly complete, his mind was already anticipating the evening ahead. Returning to Jes, he handed over the necessary paperwork to the increasingly impatient customer. The young man's urgency heightened; he hurried through the transaction, grabbed his paperwork, and swiftly departed from the shop.
"That was strange," Gavin muttered under his breath. After completing his closeout process and gathering his gear, he headed homeward.
During his usual route, Gavin unexpectedly encountered the accident scene. With emergency vehicles yet to arrive, the chaotic scene was filled with frantic bystanders assisting the victims. Three cars were involved: one with a visible side impact, another having collided with a bus stop structure, and the third, the young man's vehicle that Gavin had recently serviced, positioned in the middle of the street. Gavin swiftly pulled over, dialed 911, and hurried to the young man's vehicle, where he found him surrounded by deployed airbags.
"Hey," Gavin checked the young man for injuries. "Are you okay?"
The young man laughed. "Yeah, I'm okay. I just got my insurance renewed."
Gavin laughed lightly with the young man. "Well, it looks like you're going to need it. The ambulance will be here soon. What happened?"
He shook his head. "I don't know. I was just driving and... Where's the guy on the bike?"
"Guy on the bike?" Gavin looked around. "There was a guy on the bike, I saw him. Did you hit him?"
"I don't know..."
Gavin nodded reassuringly and tapped the young man on the shoulder. "It's okay, we'll figure this all out. Try to relax; the ambulance will be here soon." Standing up, Gavin surveyed the scene around the car. As he approached the front, he noticed the tangled bike under the tires, bent and twisted. Moving closer, he saw the rider, a young man tragically caught under the wheels. Gavin shook his head in disbelief and returned to sit with the driver, keeping him talking to maintain calm. He quickly changed the subject when the bike was mentioned, continuing his efforts to keep the driver calm. When the ambulance arrived, paramedics swiftly attended to the car, moving Gavin aside. Soon after, police arrived to process the scene, taking Gavin's statement and details before ushering him away to complete their investigation.
As Gavin stood on the sidewalk at the intersection, the chaotic aftermath of the accident unfolded before him. His gaze lingered on the wrecked cars, his heart heavy with empathy. He glanced back at the vehicle with the bike trapped beneath it, catching a glimpse of a man's leg. Gavin sighed deeply. "And just like that, it's over. I'm sorry, man. I wish there was something I could do." He shook his head, feeling powerless. "I don't even know your name."
"Nate," a soft voice uttered.
Gavin looked around, puzzled, but there was no one nearby. Startled, he turned to head back to his car. Suddenly, a person appeared in front of him, surprising him and causing him to jump. "Jesus! Watch where you're going!" Gavin's voice was thick with anger and frustration, adrenaline still coursing through him.
"Why are you so angry?" The voice was calm and quite pleasant.
"You scared the shit out of me..." Gavin began, but then paused, reflecting on the unbelievable situation he was in. He took a deep breath and shook off his frustration. "You know what? I'm good." Calming himself, he looked at the person again. "You had said something?"
"Yeah. You said you didn't know my name. It's Nate."
Gavin looked at the young man and realized he recognized him. He was the same person he had seen riding the bike back at the shop earlier in the evening. He was also the young man now trapped under the car in the accident. Gavin's head whirled with confusion as he glanced back at the car, observing the bike lodged beneath it. The coroner had arrived and was conducting her investigation. Turning back to the young man in front of him, Gavin asked, "Your name is Nate?"
"Yeah. Nate."
"You've just... Are you okay? We need to sit you down! I'll grab a paramedic." Gavin reached to take Nate by the arm, but Nate stepped back, shaking his head.
"No, I'm not okay. The paramedics can't help me."
Gavin glanced back at the accident scene, where the coroner was erecting a privacy tent and the police were methodically taping off the area. Turning his attention back to the young man in front of him, Gavin's eyes met Nate's calm, almost eerie smile. "Nate, is it?" he asked, unable to shake the surreal feeling creeping over him.
Nate nodded. "Yes, what's your name, my friend?"
"Gavin. My name is Gavin." He took a deep breath and wiped his palms on his pant legs. "So, if you want me to believe what's happening here, you are the guy over there that is..."
"Dead." The man's words were straight to the point and calm.
A crowd had gathered. Gavin was acutely aware of the people around him, making him self-conscious as he spoke. "Dead?"
Nate nodded. "Yeah, it fucking sucks, but it is what it is, I guess." He nodded toward the accident scene. "I should have stayed in bed today."
"Yeah. Umm... I'm sorry. What am I supposed to do now? Aren't you supposed to vanish into a light or something? Jesus! This is nuts."
Nate laughed. "I have to admit, I'm as confused as you are. No one came to give me an onboarding session. I was riding my bike, stopped to cross the street, and this guy hit me. Now, here I am. Dead."
"Okay." Gavin stood momentarily and spoke low wishing to avoid attention as the crowd around him grew. "So what's going on here? What do you want?"
"You said you wish you could help me. Did you mean that?"
"God, I can't believe this." Gavin turned and stepped away, grappling with disbelief. He wasn't sure what to do next. After a moment's hesitation, he sighed and relented, "Yes, of course. Sure. What do you need?"
Nate glanced back at the car, and Gavin followed his gaze. The coroner had just placed the black bag onto a gurney, preparing for transportation to the morgue. Nate turned to Gavin. "That's good to know," he said, raising his hand. "Good to know," and then he vanished.
Gavin stood there for a moment, processing what had just happened. Shaking off the surreal encounter, he made his way back to his car. At this point, all he wanted was to get home, open a beer, and pretend this was all just a crazy dream. Navigating through the traffic chaos caused by the accident, he finally reached home. Grabbing a cold beer, he sank onto the couch with a loud sigh, closing his eyes.
He took a long sip of beer and let out a slow, tense breath. "Crazy. A little stress, and you start seeing things." He grabbed the remote and flipped through local news stations, searching for updates on the accident. Snippets of information flashed across the screen until he settled on a channel offering more detailed coverage. As he watched intently, a chilling sensation crept over him as if he weren't alone. Sitting up abruptly, he scanned the room but found nothing out of place. Yet, the feeling lingered, intensifying with each passing moment. When he glanced back at the TV, he froze. In the reflection, a shadowy figure loomed behind him. Gavin's heart raced as he leaped from the couch, grabbing a bat from beside him, ready to confront the intruder.
He stopped, his eyes wide. He stepped forward, holding his bat tight. "Nate, is it?"
"Yeah." Nate looked around the room. "This is a nice place, man."
Gavin nodded, trying to calm his breathing as he stood before Nate. The reality of his situation was overwhelming.
Nate pointed as he spoke. "What are you going to do with the bat?"
"I..." Gavin's eyes narrowed as he stood and examined Nate. "What are you doing here?"
"I didn't have anywhere else to go. You said you'd help, so here I am."
Gavin stepped back, sitting down slowly on the couch. "Okay. Look, don't you have a family you can be with or a place you can haunt?"
Nate shrugged. "I don't know. I don't have any family here and didn't know what I was supposed to do. When everything was done, I was left there alone. I guess I didn't want to be alone on the first day I died."
Gavin lowered his bat slowly and sat down. "My God."
