The butterfly effect. With the flutter of a small, colourful pair of wings, a butterfly can cause a typhoon on the other end of the world. And sometimes, the absence of flapping wings can prevent something very, very terrible.
A clever guy named Edward Lorenz came up with the term butterfly effect years ago, the perfect description of how small chances can result in large differences later on. Of course, a butterfly doesn't really cause a typhoon, but it's a good metaphor to show how small changes, fast, split-second decisions can change everything. They can cause terrible things – and sometimes they can prevent them. However, the outcome isn't clear until the very end. Because each butterfly has their own head and mind.
....
Cora didn't exactly have butterflies in mind, as she hurried towards the gate of the airplane she tried to reach in time. She didn't have any nice things in mind, only a few specific swearing words, that she repeated to herself over and over again.
Her breathing was heavy, sweat drops glistened on her forehead and her face slowly turned into the colour of a very ripe tomato. She was extremely late, for a plane ride she had booked only a half an hour ago. It was a last-minute flight, a very spontaneous decision to leave her hometown in Italy behind and to jump onto the first plane that left for Washington DC. It was a crazy decision, a decision she already sort of regretted as she ran towards the gate, her legs and lungs burning with exhaustion.
Her girlfriend had broken up with her, only a few hours ago, on their three-years anniversary. Izzy had left Cora standing in the rain – quite literally. Soaked in rain (and tears) Cora had packed her things from their shared apartment, jumped into a taxi and booked a plane ticket on the ride to the airport. She didn't really think about it, if she had she'd have probably heard her mother's voice in the back of her mind screaming at her, telling her she was an idiot. Which she probably was, to be fair.
However, it was too late now. Or just in time, depending on what side you'd look at. Somehow Cora reached the airplane just in time, right before they closed the gate. She was well aware of the annoyed looks the flight attendant gave her, as she carried her bag and herself to the airplane, the very last passenger to enter the plane.
Panting, she let herself fall into her seat, right between a businessman and an old lady, ignoring all the odd looks she was getting for being so late. She made it. A tiny smile made its way onto her face, the first one since the terrible break-up. And as the airplane lifted off, she felt like she could finally breathe again, like all the bad things stayed behind in Italy, while she was on her way to the other side of the world. Only a few minutes ago she felt like dying. And now, she was alive again. Cora knew, this was probably only a feeling that would last for a few minutes, but she didn't care. Instead, she enjoyed the feeling of the cold air that filled her lungs and closed her eyes. Maybe this was what she needed.
