One Long Flight 💙

Everglow

Aisling let out a sigh as she put on her black dress, the satin and lace flowing elegantly. It fell just above her knees and had long lace sleeves. After slipping into black booties and a matching coat, she made her way downstairs where her parents were waiting for her.

"Are you ready, love?" her mother asked gently.

Aisling nodded, fidgeting with her long braid nervously. She took her place in the back of the car, stealing a glance at her phone.

Chris: I wish I could be there today
              I'm so sorry, Aisling

She sighed, turning her phone off and slipping it into her pocket. She had wanted Chris to be there, but she hadn't asked him to come. Dealing with her parents' questions would have been another layer of stress. Aisling listened to the service in a sort of daze, blocking out most of the words as they flowed around her. Standing in line to receive condolences from unfamiliar faces, she felt detached, numb. How could they truly understand her pain when they didn't know her or her grandmother?

At the gravesite, under the shelter of a small awning, rain began to fall. She heard a few grumbles from others, but she smiled. Her grandmother had loved rain, and so did she. Her eyes scanned the area, and that's when she saw him – familiar eyes waiting, observing her from a distance. He stood in the rain, hands in his pockets, wearing a black suit that was becoming damp. Her heart raced as he offered her a half-smile, a silent presence of comfort. For the first time that day, she felt like crying, and she knew it was okay to do so in the presence of this man who seemed to understand.

As the service concluded and people began to disperse, she ignored her parents' calls and ran into his waiting arms. There, in the rain, they held each other tightly.

Patrick nudged his wife, a quizzical expression on his face as he watched their daughter embrace a man they didn't recognize. Observing their interaction, he saw the genuine concern and support in the man's eyes as he held Aisling in the rain.

Aisling pulled away from the embrace, her eyes locking with his. "I thought you had to work today?"

He nodded, his fingers brushing gently against her cheek. "I did. But I managed to get out of it. I wanted to be here with you. You needed me."

Aisling nodded, feeling unable to express her gratitude with words. Their moment was interrupted as people approached them.

"Why don't we head back to the house?" her father suggested.

Looking back up at Chris, Aisling said, "Will you come?"

He nodded, his gaze warm. "Text me the address. I'll be there soon. I have a car."

Aisling smiled, leaning up to kiss him on the cheek before he walked away. The silence in the car was finally broken when her parents were alone with her.

"Who was that?" Patrick asked, his curiosity piqued.

Aisling let out a sigh, feeling both tired and protective. "His name is Chris. It's new, and I don't really want to talk about it right now."

"We'll have to talk about him eventually," her mother chimed in.

Aisling groaned, her defenses up. "I know. Just not right now. Please. And please don't scare him away."

Her father chuckled. "If you can't scare him away, then I can't."

"Funny," Aisling replied, a small smile tugging at her lips.

✈️

After nearly half an hour back at the house, people came and went, offering their condolences. Some close extended family members lingered, and when the doorbell rang, Aisling made a move to answer it, but her father gently nudged her back into her seat.

"I'll get it, love."

She groaned, following him, lingering in the doorway of the foyer. She knew it was Chris; everyone else had become accustomed to coming and going freely. She watched as her father opened the door, revealing Chris standing there with daisies. His jacket was off, and he wore slacks and a white collared shirt with rolled-up sleeves. Chris extended a hand to her father.

"Sir."

Patrick shook his hand. "Patrick."

"I'm Chris. It's nice to meet you."

"You're dating my daughter?"

Chris nodded. "I guess I am."

Patrick gestured to the flowers. "Are those for her?"

Again, Chris nodded and held up a bag. "This too."

Aisling stepped out of the shadows, her curiosity piqued. "What's in the bag?"

He grinned as his eyes fell on hers. "Ice cream."

She walked over to him, positioning herself between Chris and her father. "Leave him alone, Daddy." She watched as her father nodded and walked away, then led Chris into the kitchen. She turned to him, a small smile on her lips. She took the bag from him. "Thank you." As she reached for the flowers, her mother took them from her hands to find a vase. Aisling laughed. "This is my mum, Elizabeth."

Chris smiled as he took a seat at the table, aware that both of her parents were scrutinizing him. "It's nice to meet you both."

Aisling rolled her eyes playfully, leaning closer to Chris. "I don't bring a lot of men home to London."

He nodded with understanding. "It's fine. Really. Wait until you meet my family." Her heart felt like it was going to beat right out of her chest at his statement that felt more like a promise than a possibility.

"Where is your family?"

Chris chuckled, casting a glance around the room where a few curious eyes were directed at him. "Boston, sir."

"Boston? Oh. So you're the man she was talking about when she said she wanted to move to Boston?"

Aisling blushed deeply. "Mom!"

Chris laughed as Aisling's embarrassment became evident. "I hope so." He noticed a piano in the sitting room and stood up. "Can I?"

Aisling handed her ice cream to her mother and followed Chris to the sitting room.

"Know how to play?" her father asked from behind her.

Chris nodded. "I do, sir. May I?"

Patrick nodded with a smile. "Sure. It hasn't been played in so long."

Taking a seat at the piano bench, Aisling faced away from the instrument as Chris started to play "Everglow" by Coldplay, his voice soft and soothing.

🎵 Oh, they say people come
Say people go
This particular diamond was extra special
And though you might be gone
And the world may not know
Still I see you, celestial
Like a lion you ran
A goddess you rolled
Like an eagle you circle
In perfect purple
So how come things move on?
How come cars don't slow?
When it feels like the end of my world
When I should, but I can't, let you go?
But when I'm cold, cold
Oh, when I'm cold, cold
There's a light that you give me
When I'm in shadow
There's a feeling you give me,
An everglow🎵

Aisling found her eyes welling up with tears as Chris played the piano, his gaze fixed on her. She glanced around and noticed several others were also teary-eyed, including her mother. Chris gently pulled her closer to him.

"I'm sorry. Please don't cry."

She chuckled softly, shaking her head. "No, Chris. It's beautiful. Absolutely perfect." Aisling leaned back slightly to meet his gaze, feeling his thumbs brushing away her tears.

Chris nodded, his expression warm. "The light she left within you will everglow."

Aisling shook her head playfully, poking him in the chest. "You glow."

He smiled, leaning closer to her ear. "Everyone is watching us."

She laughed, her voice soft. "Better get used to it then."