21.

The leather surface of the steering wheel bit into her palms as she squeezed her hands over it. Pretending to be on the road, she turned the wheel left and right, imagining the sleek, red coup driving through the streets. She had never owned a car before. She had her license but never had a reason to buy one.

They had been in the store for over an hour, going through cars to find one that didn't only fit their budget but also looked impeccable and in good shape. There were three Ayesha had her eyes on, and she couldn't choose, so she pushed the decision to Joseph, who decided to buy the red sedan.

"How is it." Joseph peeked in, resting his forearms on the window frame. "The imaginary ride you are on right now."

"In a few minutes, it wouldn't be imaginary anymore. Have you paid?"

"Yeah." He held some papers by his head. "Everything is set. I even have the keys."

She squealed with excitement, and Joseph laughed, jumping into the passenger seat and tossing the keys to her. The engine rev