Oliver; That was the name on the gold plate that was skewedly fastened to the man’s chest. She then tried that strategy, slowly calling him by name and making a request out of the syllables. In her completely objective perspective, he shook his head and appeared more like a tense child.
Clacking away at his infernal keyboard, he said, “M’am.” You just won’t fit in anywhere.” Dawn gathered the thin sweater fabric into a ball in front of her while gritting her teeth. The size of a child’s sleepover bag was the only thing she had brought with her; pajamas, a bottle of Advil, toiletries, a sweater in a different color that is slightly thinner, and Although a child wouldn’t have put a pill bottle in an emergency bag, she was not going to be able to deal with another splitting headache and only have to “lie down” for relief. When she heard the news, she had hurriedly packed all of this into a black backpack. Her mother had not dodged any questions. Until the unexpected turn of the call, she had been all set to endure the incredibly lengthy discussions about book clubs and golf.
“So, we were thinking — “ “-Your father isn’t feeling well.” She quickly forgot all golf-related thoughts. Dawn said a few short words, put whatever she remembered in the bag, and then she left her driveway.
After that, the airport was like a white-tiled, packed-with-bags hell for her. She almost lost her wallet when she put it down for a split second to anxiously check the time, which caused not only the security line to come to a halt but also the infant in the stroller behind her to be dissatisfied. On the one and only flight to Florida, which lasted for nearly nine hours, there was no room for her now. Dawn briefly considered running for the plane as she glanced past him and cranched her neck. a stupid idea, but one that still crossed her mind. She looked back at the man, Oliver, in a state of panic with tears glistening in her eyes.
“Please, sir, my father — I must reach him.” She had seen that look too many times as he just stared at her. The expression conveyed, “I am not paid enough for this.” Her ragged breath clouded her glasses as she wiped her eyes. Despite the ugly tracks of tears rolling down her face, Dawn turned and put her passport down with her mouth open to argue.
“M’am, can I book you on the next flight to Florida at six in the morning tomorrow?”
“No!” She felt like screaming. It’s not okay! I must board this plane.
“Sorry,” she added as an afterthought, “There is no way I can make that happen, Miss.” Dawn clung to the front of her sweater like a lifeline as raw fear rose within her, making every breath a struggle.
What if she failed to arrive on time? What if her father had passed away already? What if she didn’t get to say “I love you” to him as often as he deserved? Imagine — “Excuse me.” She was startled away from the list of what-ifs, which was slowly turning into a messy, teetering stack that was about to fall and spread like a large pile of papers. Dawn turned and said, “We’re in the middle of something — “ while thanking God for a different voice than Oliver’s monotone, slightly condescending drawl. The rest of the sentence stuck in her throat.
Tall; Dawn first considered that to be a word that could describe the woman. Tall, then beautiful. This woman should have been on the cover of Vogue, not in an airport with a slightly ruffled collared shirt and a broken carry-on in her delicately manicured hands. Her steel-gray eyes moved back and forth between Oliver and Dawn. When tears clung unapologetically to her eyelashes, it felt a little stupid to be noticing this strange woman’s eye color, reflecting on the sheen of blue and silver that appeared to flicker across it in different light. While wiping her eyes of her dark hair, the woman moved the bag in her hands.
I apologize for interrupting, but I might be able to assist. Dawn wiped away her tears with one shaking hand as she loosened her grip on her shirt. She was vaguely aware that she probably had black mascara all over her face, but she didn’t care.
“Really?” Over the word, her voice cracked uncomfortably.
“I booked an additional seat next to me for my luggage, but I’m pretty sure you need it more than my bags do,” the passenger stated. Oliver quickly clicked away at his keyboard while aiming a microphone at his lips.
“Flight 3745 is now taking off; Gate C56. Please form a line for Groups One and Two.” Panicked, Dawn squinted at her phone in search of a missed call from her mother, the message that would render her useless. Thankfully, the screen remained empty. She stuffed the phone in the pocket of her jeans, causing her jaw to drop.
“I — have no idea what to say.” Dawn looked at the stranger with large, watery eyes. I’m grateful. After she had wrapped her arms around the tall woman, carrying her carry-on, she had no idea what she was doing. As delicate hands hesitantly patted her back, she heard someone taking a breath. Despite the fact that Dawn had just bear-hugged a complete stranger, she was aware that a larger, more vocal part of her was too grateful to care as she retreated. This part of Dawn was embarrassed, she knew.
Dawn watched the digital clock on her phone’s home screen tick by for the next thirty minutes, counting each minute. Dawn practically jumped to the front of the line when they finally called for boarding, trailing only an elderly gray couple who stumbled up to scan their passes. As she scanned her own boarding pass, the scanner stopped. Before it flashed green and Dawn hurriedly boarded the plane, she briefly panicked. The paper stated that Seat K was in Row 9. As the elderly couple took their seats, she nervously trotted in behind them, then swung into her aisle and pointedly gazed out the window, wishing the plane would take off. She was very disappointed when, twenty minutes later, the plane was still stoic on the runway, her knees bouncing.
She was content to flash the screen of her phone at her every few seconds, appearing unable to remain still. She held her breath until the notification turned out to be an alarm from Duolingo after Green caught her eye. As a warmth settled next to her, she angrily shut it. She turned, trying, but failing, to smile at the woman. Her dark hair was falling out of the holder for her carry-on, which was still in both of her hands.
“Are you okay?” With her eyebrows furrowed, she asked. Inadvertently checking her phone, Dawn sniffed. The tears had vanished from her memory.
“…Yeah.” No. In no way. Dawn avoided those hard eyes by looking down. Her makeup and tears were removed from her face as her soft fingers brushed against it. Dawn jerked and looked up with wide, frightened eyes. The woman backed away.
“Sorry, I — My agent claims that I need to improve my interpersonal skills.” Dawn let out a laugh that was hard to believe and awkwardly disappeared into the silence. “My name is Kyra,” she said.
“I am Dawn.” That awkward silence became a blanket for her.
Dawn: “It’s nice to meet you.” Kyra placed the bag under her feet.
“You also.” In the stillness, tears welled up in her eyes as she cracked her voice.
Is there something I can do? to assist?”
Dawn didn’t know how to respond. She only wanted to get to Florida, run into the house, and be sure to say goodbye in time. Therefore, she accepted a shrug. Kyra sat back and turned her head to look at Dawn clearly and intently. She turned toward the window as it scanned her skin in the same way her therapist’s eyes did. She did not require two sessions of therapy at this time.
After a brief period of turbulence and shaky ascent, the plane finally took off. Dawn knew what was going on; Given how shaken she was, it was only fair that the plane also had to be. Dawn flicked on her phone and swiped down to hesitantly press her thumb against the Airplane Mode symbol as the seatbelt sign illuminated. She might have thought she saw a call alert as she did this. She exhaled strongly as it vanished, quickly turning service back on. She searched the notification panel but found… nothing. Sighing, Dawn leaned her head against the seat. She might have been seeing things. I hoped she was seeing something. She felt her eyes droop and her head rest against the window, almost against her will. She succumbed to sleep’s reassuring embrace as the struggle passed from her body.
When she realized that her phone had fallen out of her hand and been left on her lap, she burst into tears. She turned numbly to Kyra, who was reading a thick book in the dark like a psychopath with a book on her knees. Kyra gave Dawn a warm smile as she got up. Her right cheek developed a crease as a result of it.
“And she comes to.”
Dawn rubbed her eyes and said, “How–” How long more?” Kyra scanned her phone briefly.
“About an hour.” She put a feathered bookmark between the pages as she closed her book. Why were you so desperate to board this flight? If it’s okay with you, I’ll ask.
Dawn felt empty and like she had no more tears to shed. Before she murmured, “My Mom called;,” she was listening to Ariana Grande music, which was completely unnecessary. said my father is really ill, and now I’m here. Before turning to embrace Dawn, Kyra exhaled. She would have normally shied away from the arms around her, but she really needed a hug right now.
She expressed regret, saying, “That’s awful.” Dawn tapped her shoulder and nodded. She separated herself from Kyra in order to join the metal after the seatbelt sign snapped back into place. Dawn spent the remainder of the flight staring blankly out the window as she observed the undeservedly cheerful movement of the clouds as they scurried across the sky. Kyra had drifted off and leaned lightly against Dawn at some point. She was too afraid of waking the model who was sleeping on her to move. Kyra awoke from her slumber when the plane started its trembling descent. She quickly blinked as she wiped her mouth. Her carry-on was placed on her lap when her hands reached down and picked it up. As they hit the ground, the light from her phone washed over her skin. They ceased. The moon was very high up in the sky. The light shone silver on Kyra’s eyes. Because of the weight of all the emotions coursing through her veins, Dawn felt unable to move. With her phone and bag in hand, she forced herself to stand. She turned off Airplane Mode with trembling hands. her home screen was scanned. I found it empty.
She felt something twist in her chest as she watched Kyra leave outside of the gate.
“Wait.”
Kyra shifted.
Dawn said in a hoarse voice, “I need to pay you back for this,” as she walked swiftly toward her. The tall woman, who was probably not much older than she was, shook her head.
She responded, removing her dark hair from her eyes and saying, “You don’t owe me anything.”
“I want to repay you regardless,” Kyra typed something into Dawn’s phone, which was already open.
“There. You can try to pay me if you absolutely have to. However, if you simply wish to talk, I am never very busy. Behind the airport glass, there was a brilliant flash of light as they turned. Fireworks. She had no idea that it was New Year’s Eve. Kyra moved closer to Dawn, her face turning red, green, and gold as she did so. Fascinated by the flashes of color, Dawn couldn’t look away from the glittering explosions. She leaned into the weight of a thin arm that was wrapped around her shoulder as she watched the year end in shimmering pieces.
The same two women stood and held hands as they watched the fireworks almost two years later. Dawn slipped her glasses down her nose as she rested her head on Kyra’s shoulder.
“Do you have any new goals?” Despite knowing her name by heart, she still mentally referred to the woman next to her as “the model,” she murmured to her. Kyra smiled lightly as she turned.
“Only to find better ways to convey my love for you.” Dawn experienced heat in her cheeks unrelated to the explosions.
“I love you” is sufficient. She gave the sky a second glance and saw a gold flash turn into silver flecks. As Kyra turned Dawn’s face toward her own, her eyes took on that hue.
“How about “I adore you,” please?” With a small smile on her lips, Kyra inquired. Dawn stood up on her hind legs.
She exhaled, “Yeah, that also works.”
Pressing their lips together, Kyra’s fingers intertwined in her hair.
Her world also burst into a different kind of fireworks.
