THE MIDNIGHT GUEST
She hurried down the empty street, her heels clicking briskly against the pavement. Above her, the moon peeked out with a smug grin, bathing the city in a ghostly haze. The buildings loomed like indifferent giants, their windows glinting like spectacles perched on the faces of old professors. The streetlamps fought valiantly against the darkness, reclaiming patches of the night in pools of warm orange light.
Up ahead, a tram rattled into view, twinkling like a Christmas tree before vanishing around the corner, swallowed by the shadows. The click of her heels quickened, echoing off the walls. Too lateshed missed the last tram. The moon, the cheeky thing, seemed to snicker overhead.
Shed stayed far too long at her friends flat, then stubbornly waved off any offers of an escort, convinced the tram would save her. Now here she was, stranded. Her steps slowed, then stopped entirely. Defeated, she sank onto a bench and let out a quiet sniffle.
Thenscreech! Brakes groaned, and a cheerful voice drawled from a car window, “Fancy a ride?” She shrank back, wishing she could dissolve into the night. Adventure was the last thing she wantedhome was the only dream. A man leaned out, grinning. “Dont be scared. Ill get you where you need to go, swift as the wind.” The passenger door swung open, and after a hesitant pause, she slipped inside.
The leather seat welcomed her, warm and smelling faintly of cedar and something indefinably cosy. On the backseat, a child dozed against the side of an enormous dog, whose hot breath ruffled the stray curls at her neck. She stiffened.
“Dont worry,” the man said, flashing a quick smile. “Bellas a softiewouldnt hurt a fly.” He stuck out a hand. “Nathan.”
She mumbled, “Eleanor Whitmore.”
Nathan burst out laughing. “Whitmore? Bit grand for someone your age, isnt it?”
Catching her reflection in the rearview mirrormascara smudged, eyes wideshe barely recognised herself. With a huff, she muttered, “Depends who you ask.”
“Teacher, then?” Nathan guessed. She stayed silent, lost in thought. “Were running late too,” he offered. And just like that, the fear melted away. It felt absurdly natural, as if theyd known each other for years. He handed her a handkerchief, and she dabbed at her face, managing a grateful smile.
“You scrub up all right,” Nathan observed, and just like that, her mood lifted. They joked and laughed, while Bella gave an occasional warning woof”Keep it down, youll wake the kid.”
Then the car turned down a dimly lit alley. Her heart lurched.
“Just popping into the chemist,” Nathan explained, catching her tension. “Promised Mum her pills. Wont take a mo.”
It was well past midnight, and tomorrowor rather, todaywas the weekend. No one was waiting for Eleanor except a towering stack of marking, so they drove on, slicing through the sleeping city like a ghostly carriage.
Eventually, Nathan invited her back to his flat. She wasnt even surprised.
The flat was on the seventh floor. Nathan carried his sleeping son gently, and in the lifts eerie glow, they stole glances at each other before dissolving into schoolyard giggles. He was tall, broad-shouldered, with sun-kissed skin and hair like golden wheat. Eleanor, even in heels, barely reached his shoulder.
Inside, the flat was tidyeverything in its place, clearly cared for. Nathan tucked his son, Alfie, into bed, and Bella flopped down beside them. Over tea and classical music (their tastes aligned perfectly), Eleanor felt no awkwardness, only that strange, comforting familiarity againas if Alfie were hers, as if theyd always been a family.
Later, over wine, Nathans cheer faltered. His wife had died three years ago, he admitteddifficult childbirth. Shed insisted the doctors save Alfie instead. His mum helped now, watching Alfie when work piled up.
Nathan asked Eleanor to stay the night. She agreedwhether from the wine or some deeper pull, she couldnt say.
Morning came softly. A tiny voice whispered, “Mummy?” as small fingers patted her cheek. Alfie peered at her, curious. Bella, a warm weight at her feet, yawned. Eleanor, tears pricking her eyes, hugged him tight. “Mine,” she murmured.
Nathan squeezed into the room with a steaming breakfast tray. “Getting on already, eh?” He grinned, thenout of nowheresaid, “Marry me.”
Eleanor blinked. “You dont even know me.”
“I know enough. Lifes longplenty of time to learn the rest. Alfie likes you. Bella likes you. Youd make a brilliant mum.”
Outside, dawn crept in, painting the room pink. Eleanor lay still, eyes closed, replaying the strange dream where shed wandered a city that tried to swallow her whole, only to be rescued by a stranger whod proposed.
Then she opened her eyes. Her husband, Nathan, slept beside her. Between them, Alfie snuffled softly. Bella, sprawled over her feet, cracked one eye open, yawned, and went back to sleep.
The alarm wouldnt ring for ages. Eleanor began planning her lessons in her headthen drifted off again. The sun, relentless, chased the last shadows away. Up in the sky, the moon winked.
