The familiar ringtone of my phone brought me back from my wayward thoughts as I watched the city pass by outside the cab window. I glanced at the screen, something between a smile and a grimace stretching my face.

“Hey, Mom,” I greeted carefully, tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear. Hoping against hope that this wasn’t one of those calls when she’d forgotten to take her meds for too long again. I wouldn’t be able to handle her melancholic rambling too well if that ...