A Part of My Memory

Elliot

I almost tripped running into the airport, whipping my head left and right as I scanned each and every section for Zara.

I stopped every person with curly hair. Stopped every person who was relatively close to her height. Stopped every person in desperation to find my Zara. But the longer I looked, the longer I looked like a maniac, running around and calling her name and ignoring the stares that followed.

I started to panic.

"Zara!" I called for the hundredth time, revolving in a circle as I searched and searched and searched every inch of the airport, but I couldn't find her. After 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes of searching, I realised that she wasn't here. She must have left already. I cursed and collapsed into a chair, covering my face with my hands.

"Last call for flights 1540, 1589, and 1567," an announcement sounded on the speakers. "Please make your way to the boarding gates and board your plane."

I looked up then. At the open doors that led to the terminal. At the security guarding. But then I spotted her back profile. I spotted her rushing through the terminal. And I didn't give myself time to think before I got up and ran towards her, ignoring the shouts of security and shrugging off the ones who managed to grab me.

There she was.

"Zar—!" I was suddenly tackled, my call cut off by a sudden attack. I grunted but managed to push the guard off of me and continue. I wasn't going to let her go this time.

"Zara!" I called her name. She was wearing a hoodie and had her back to me, but I managed to catch up to her and took her by the shoulders before spinning her around to face me.

My heart dropped.

"Who are you?" The stranger before me asked, stepping away from me. She narrowed her brows, looking at me like I was mad before running to her boarding gate.

It wasn't her.

I didn't even bother to move or defend myself when a guard tackled me to the ground and cuffed my hands behind my back. I didn't bother to explain myself and my intentions when they questioned me and roughly led me out of the airport. I didn't bother to do anything because I was too late.

And Zara was gone.