TWO MONTHS EARLIER...
A wintery breeze was whipping at my hair and clothes when I left the house and the life I'd imagined. Stirred by the wind, swirls of different shades of grey announced another gloomy day. Surprisingly, not a real contrast to the rainy, cold weather expecting me in London.
As soon as the taxi pulled up to the curb, I climbed in and rested my back against the car seat, eyes closed, the smell of bitter cigarettes mingling with the cadence of the windscreen wipers and the Arabic tunes floating from the speakers.
"Hacia el aeropuerto, por favor."
Peering out through the rain-spattered window, I took one last look at the front door and watched it move past the car, getting smaller and smaller behind me. I had to bite my lip to stifle the pang of loss it sent through me.
Goodness, what's going on in my life?
About one hour later, there I was, sitting at the departure gate of a midday flight, with my thoughts still racing in a hundred different directions and my fingers drumming against the armrest in a restless movement.
Another impatient look at the information board to check on the time and my frustration deepened. Only a few minutes had passed.
A long calming breath and I returned to the book on my lap—only to find myself reading the same paragraphs repeatedly a couple of pages later.
My eyes met the stares of the strange faces seated across from me, one of the passengers flashing me a gracious, polite smile. Carefully avoiding his gaze, I rechecked the information on the wrinkled page clutched in my hands.
Date: Monday, 16 February
Departure: Madrid Adolfo Suarez Barajas Terminal 4S | 12:05
Arrival: London Heathrow T5 | 13:35
Flight: IB7444
I folded the page again and used it to mark my place before I closed the book for good.
Sucking in a deep breath, I squeezed my eyes closed. Jesus, maybe I should just go back and report in sick. My head pounded, and the ache in my chest was on the verge of rising and becoming tears at any moment.
Hey, you pull yourself together! My ever so critical inner voice gave me a stern, warning finger wag.
All in vain, though. In the end, I couldn't stop the timid tear from making its way down my face.
The announcement of the boarding procedures finally echoed throughout the crowded lounge, and everyone quickly lined up. Exhaling slowly to force the tension away, I placed myself at the end of the queue and verified my seat number once again. 5F.
After making my way down the aisle almost mechanically, I stopped in front of my seat and began the struggle with my hand-luggage, which refused to go into the overhead storage compartment.
"Come, let me help you with that." A friendly passenger seated across the aisle immediately stood and offered his assistance.
Thank you.
Already on my last nerve, I gave up the fight, stepping aside so he could tuck my bag neatly away.
Sinking gratefully into my seat, I thanked him for the kind gesture with a subtle nod and a nervous smile and then gazed down at the book in my hand.
YOU ARE READING
While I'm Gone
RomanceOn the surface, Sophie had it all. The perfect marriage, a wonderful son, a successful career. But then, when Alex puts an end to their marriage, the day before she must leave for a two-week work assignment in London, her whole world is turned upsid...
