The inside smelled like piney air freshener. She took a quick glance around. It was clean, the seats beside her gray and plush. The driver’s and passenger’s seats were still there, as was the steering wheel. This was just a regular SUV turned into a self-driving car. A sort of evolution. Interesting. Her mom tapped on the window, and Zelu was shocked when it opened in response. She and her mom looked at each other for a moment and then they both laughed. “Wow,” her mother said, a surprised look on her face. “I know,” Zelu agreed.
“You’ll be all right?”
“I’m just going to the lake,” Zelu said. “I’ll be fine.”
“Call me if you need me. I can come get you.”
“Please prepare for your trip,” an automated voice announced. Her mother jumped back, as if the SUV would suddenly run her over.
“Relax, Mom,” Zelu said. “Its sensors know you’re there. It won’t move until you’re at a safe distance.”
“I’ll believe it when I see it,” her mother said.
“You’re about to.”
Her mother waved as the vehicle slowly drove off. Zelu waved back.
And then she was all alone, and her life was in the hands of the SUV.
“This is so weird,” she muttered as she watched the steering wheel moving on its own. It was the first time she’d ever been in a moving vehicle by herself. Nobody was there, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that there was a presence; something was in control. It was like being driven by a ghost. “Or should I say a NoBody,” she said to herself, laughing.
When the vehicle stopped to turn onto the main road, her mirth vanished.
She believed in the science behind self-driving vehicles. The technology had existed for years now, and she’d been researching this new cab service over the last several months. The idea of being able to order one with her phone like an Uber and not have to deal with a human being who looked at her strangely, asked awkward questions, could be a serial killer, and so on, was a wonderful thought. More important, it would free her from her family. Whenever she asked one of them for a ride, they responded with this weird blend of pity, control, and duty. She didn’t think they even knew they did this. It always left her feeling pathetic and childlike, even when it was one of her younger siblings driving her. Oh, to be free of that feeling.
Nevertheless, in this moment, she wanted to shriek with panic. She dug her nails into the armrests of her chair. Despite all the research and reassurances from the customer service people she’d spoken with, this was very different now that it was happening in real time. What if there was a glitch and it miscalculated? What if another driver did some crazy thing the SUV couldn’t understand or adjust to? What if there was a solar flare and the whole car died?
“Shit!” she screeched as the SUV made the turn. “I’m gonna die!”
Then they were on the road. Zelu whooped and laughed with relief, still sweating bullets. The vehicle went at exactly the speed limit, which meant that everyone else passed her by. Several people did a double take, a few pointed, and two held up phones to record videos. Zelu was too stressed to pay any of it much mind. They were approaching the highway.