Where You Are

Moncton

Jesse

I watched her board the flight and saw her turn back one last time. Then her face flushed and I couldn't help my stupid smile. As soon as she was out of sight, I turned and pumped my fist in the air.

'Yes!' I hissed to myself.

Blimey, it had been a long time since I'd met anyone as interesting as her or had such a gripping conversation. And she was pretty, too, which certainly didn't hurt. I felt like I was on top of the world, which actually meant something coming from a commercial pilot.

I ran my hands through my hair and set off back up the corridor and then turned back towards the gate where I'd left her. I had the strongest urge to go after her. But that would be too weird, right? We'd both been up all night, I knew I was only running on pure adrenaline at this point. No, it would be smarter to give her a bit of space, text her later after we'd both had some sleep.

I turned back down the corridor after the crew shut the bridge doors and it was too late to do anything stupid. I pulled my mobile back out of my pocket and pressed the contact information for Billy, my best mate. He'd know if I was going mad or not. If not, at least he'd likely had a good night's sleep and have a bit on insight on the situation.

'Which part of the world are you in today, you manky tosser?' He answered the call.

'Canada, you barmy twit,' I retorted at once. We always insulted the other when we spoke on the telephone. It was all good fun, sometimes we could get quite creative.

'Canada, eh?' He repeated the word. 'You frozen to the cockpit or what?'

'Not exactly,' I rolled my eyes as I continued barrelling through the airport. 'I'm feeling quite warm, actually.'

It was starting to get busier even in the secured areas with flight crews getting ready for another day. I would be joining them tomorrow.

But not today.

'Listen, mate, I've met someone,' I told him.

'What, like... a girl?' He asked, sounding quite intrigued now.

'Yeah,' I said, nodding eagerly into my mobile even though I knew he couldn't see it. 'Just now.'

'Just now?' He repeated with a laugh. 'What are you doing talking to me when you've just met a girl?'

'She's gone now,' I explained.

'You let her get away?' He laughed again. 'You really are a tosser. I thought you wanted to meet someone.'

'She had to get on another flight,' I went on.

'Ah, I see,' he mused. 'So, who is she? You gonna chase after her?'

'Eventually,' I said and he laughed again. 'Her name's Birgitta, she's a neonatal nurse and she lives in Canada.'

'Is that all?' He said.

'I've just spent the last two and half hours talking to her, it only felt like twenty minutes!' I went on. 'She loves to travel, she's got the most wicked tattoos I've ever seen all over her arms from all the places she's been, she likes to hike, travels light, loves children...'

'Alright, alright!' He groaned. 'Blimey, mate, you sure she's not just after you so she can travel for free?'

'No,' I said at once. 'I was the one chasing after her.'

'Okay, explain that bit to me,' he said. 'Because it sounds like you just saw her in passing and then ran after her.'

'I did,' I told him.