Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 78576 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78576 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
And just when things got into a good groove with Jesse.
Tears fall down my face and hit the cold plastic of the oxygen mask.
There’s one more bump, and I know this is it. I squeeze my eyes so hard, I fear that my eyelids will rip off.
I hold my breath and yield my soul to the universe—
And nothing happens.
Did it happen? Is this what death feels like? The same as life?
I open my eyes slightly. I’m still on the plane. Everyone else is still clinging to their seats for dear life.
But the plane is no longer shaking.
I look through the window. It’s dark outside, so I can’t tell if we’re still over the Channel. But we’ve stabilized and are sailing through a smooth stream of air.
Then a beep from the captain’s speaker.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. First and foremost, I want to assure you that our aircraft is now stable and under control. I apologize for the unexpected turbulence we just experienced, which resulted in a significant and sudden loss of altitude. I understand that this was a very alarming experience. What occurred was a rare but very normal event that my first officer and I are trained to handle.”
What? I poke Jesse’s shoulder. He opens his eyes.
“Holy shit.” He slowly releases his grip from me and meets my gaze. “We’re okay.”
The captain continues his announcement. “The oxygen masks were deployed as a precaution due to the rapid altitude change, and I want to thank everyone for following the safety procedures correctly. Please wait a few minutes before retrieving any fallen suitcases to ensure that our aircraft is stable and it is safe to remove your seatbelt. If you need to access an overhead compartment that has not opened, please be careful, as items likely have shifted during the turbulence.
“Bethany will be moving through the cabin to assist you, check for any injuries, and ensure everyone’s safety and comfort. Please remain seated with your seatbelts fastened for the time being, as we may experience more unexpected turbulence.
“Your safety and well-being is our top priority. My co-pilot and I are currently assessing our situation and will keep you informed about our flight status. We might need to adjust our flight plan accordingly, and I will update you as soon as we have more information.
“Please do not hesitate to call Bethany if you need any assistance or have any concerns. Thank you again, and know that we are committed to making the rest of your journey as comfortable and safe as possible.”
I look down at my hands. They’re still shaking.
I stare ahead, not believing what we just went through. The sounds of the plane became a blur in my brain.
From the void, I hear Jesse’s voice.
“Brianna?”
But I can’t respond to him. I can only fix my gaze on the back of the seat in front of me.
“Brianna!” Jesse tugs on my arm, pulling me out of my trance. “Are you okay?”
I blink several times, allowing a few more tears to fall.
My God.
I was positive my life was over.
Nothing flashed before my eyes.
Nothing.
It was just…over.
Except it’s not.
And I should be jubilant.
But I’m…numb.
“Brianna…”
I turn to Jesse, look into his dark eyes. He gently removes the yellow oxygen mask from my face.
“I was so scared.” My tone is robotic.
“So was I, baby.”
The flight attendant, Bethany, who seems not nearly as shaken as we passengers are, walks down the aisle. The stench of vomit drifts toward me, and I swallow back my own nausea.
My left hand is in Jesse’s, while my right hand clutches the armrest of my window seat with white knuckles.
Outside, the sky is still pitch black with no lights from below. Either we’re above clouds, or there are no boats on the English Channel.
Or blackness has just descended…
No.
I breathe in.
We’re okay.
I didn’t lose my dinner, and neither did Jesse, but someone did.
As reality sinks back in, I realize the entire episode lasted less than a minute. It felt longer, and yet it also seemed to pass in the blink of an eye.
I swallow.
Bethany stops and smiles at Jesse. “Do you two need anything?”
“I’d love to have the ten years that turbulence just took off my life back,” he says.
I can’t tell if he’s trying to be jovial or if he’s covering for how nerve-racked he is.
She nods. “The captain and co-captain are so sorry. There was irregular atmospheric motion, and the wings lost some lift in the process. Everything is fine now, and the captain has the aircraft under control. These things happen sometimes, and the pilot is almost always able to regain control.”
I swallow. “Almost?”
Bethany’s eyes widen. “Forgive me for my poor word choice.” She gives a weak smile. “I promise you, I’ve been doing this flight back and forth every day for the last eight years. As the captain said, the kind of turbulence we just experienced is rare but not unheard of. A plane is always the safest place you can be.”