Ben is a taxi driver. He drives his taxi every night in the city. The city is big and bright. He knows all the streets.

One rainy Tuesday night, Ben is tired. A woman gets into his taxi. She has a black coat and red hair. She does not say hello.

“Where to?” Ben asks.

The woman says nothing. She gives him a small, white card. On the card, there is an address: 47 Mercury Lane.

Ben drives. The woman sits very still. She looks out of the window. The rain is loud on the car roof.

Ben tries to talk. “Bad weather,” he says.

The woman does not answer. She looks at her phone. Her phone has no light. The screen is dark and silent.

They arrive at 47 Mercury Lane. It is an old office building. All the windows are dark. No lights are on.

The woman gives Ben money. Her hand is cold. She gets out of the taxi and walks to the dark door. She does not look back.

Ben drives away. He looks at the money. It is old and strange. He feels uneasy.

The next night, the same woman gets into his taxi. Same black coat. Same red hair. She gives him the same white card: 47 Mercury Lane.

Again, she says nothing. Again, her phone is dark and silent. Again, she goes into the dark building.

This happens for five nights.

On the sixth night, Ben is nervous. When the woman gets in, he says, “Why do you go to that dark place?”

The woman looks at him. Her eyes are very blue. For the first time, she speaks. Her voice is a whisper. “I have to send a message.”

Then she is gone, into the building.

Ben cannot sleep. Who is this woman? What message? Why is her phone always dead?

The next night, Ben is ready. When the woman arrives, he has a new plan. He has a small, powerful torch in his pocket.

They drive to 47 Mercury Lane. The woman pays with the same old money. She walks to the door.

This time, Ben is quick. He turns off his taxi lights. He follows her. He is quiet.

The door is open. Inside, it is dark and dusty. Ben uses his torch. He sees an old reception desk. He sees broken chairs.

He hears a sound upstairs. A click, click, click sound.

Ben walks up the stairs. He is scared, but he must know.

He sees a light under a door. He opens the door slowly.

The room is empty, except for one thing. On the floor, there is an old computer. It is very old. The woman is there. She is typing on the keyboard. Click, click, click. The computer screen is bright. It is the only light.

She is sending an email.

Ben steps into the room. “What are you doing?” he asks.

The woman turns. She is not surprised. “My phone does not work here. No signal. This is the only place. The only computer that works for me.”

“Why?” Ben asks.

“I am sending a message to my sister,” the woman says. “Ten years ago, we argued. I said terrible things. Then she was in an accident. She died. I never said sorry. I cannot rest.”

Ben understands. The woman is a ghost. She is tied to this world by her regret.

“Did you send the message?” Ben asks.

The woman looks at the screen. “Yes. Now it is done.”

She turns back to Ben. She smiles. For the first time, she looks peaceful. Then, slowly, she begins to fade. She becomes like smoke. Then she is gone.

The computer screen goes dark.

Ben stands alone in the quiet, dark room. He feels sad for the woman, but he is also glad for her. Her message was sent. Now she is free.

Ben drives his taxi home as the sun comes up. He feels different. He thinks about messages we leave unsaid.

He decides to call his brother. They have not spoken for a long time.

It is time to send a message.

---

Vocabulary Notes

Uneasy
Meaning: Feeling worried, anxious, or uncomfortable about a situation. You feel that something is not quite right.
Example: “He looks at the money. It is old and strange. He feels uneasy.”
Similar Words:
Nervous: More about fear or worry before something happens. (Ben was nervous before the woman got in the taxi).
Uncomfortable: Can be physical or emotional. (The chair was uncomfortable. He felt uncomfortable asking the question).

Powerful
Meaning: Having great strength, force, or effect. In the story, it describes a torch that is very strong and bright.
Example: “He has a small, powerful torch in his pocket.”
Similar Words:
Strong: A more general word for having power. (He is very strong. A strong light).
Bright: Specifically for light. (The sun is very bright).

Signal
Meaning: A sign, sound, or action that carries information. In technology, it is the waves that allow phones, radios, and TVs to work.
Example: “My phone does not work here. No signal.”
Similar Words:
Connection: The state of being joined or linked. Often used for phones and the internet. (The internet connection is bad).
Reception: Another word for the quality of a radio, TV, or phone signal. (The phone reception is poor in this building).

Regret
Meaning: A feeling of sadness or disappointment about something you did or did not do in the past.
Example: “She is tied to this world by her regret.”
Similar Words:
Guilt: The feeling of having done something wrong. (He felt guilt after telling a lie).
Sorry: What you say or feel to apologise. (I am sorry I was late).

Fade
Meaning: To slowly become less clear, strong, or bright; to disappear slowly.
Example: “Then, slowly, she begins to fade. She becomes like smoke.”
Similar Words:
Disappear: To go out of sight. It can be sudden or slow. (The car disappeared around the corner).
Vanish: To disappear suddenly and completely. (My keys have vanished! I can’t find them).

Story written by DeepSeek.

Image created by 1min.ai.

CC Music: Drifting at 432 Hz – Unicorn Heads.

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