Mismatched Socks

Renée - Chapter 24: I know my way around an airport

With a heavy heart I walk into the airport with all the people I am leaving behind. They wanted to throw me a goodbye-party, but I refused. It just makes things harder and even more real. I have to get my ass on that plane and don't look back. I stop walking and turn around.

Parker jumps into a hug. 'Take care, you smart girl,' she whispers. I hug her back tightly. 'I will.' She lets me go and wipes away her tears. A soft but sad smile takes place on her lips. Arthur takes her hand and comforts her. He is a very good boyfriend to her, and I wish them the best of luck. She deserves the best.

Kai gently hugs me. 'If being a doctor isn't good enough for you, you can still pursue acting,' they joke. 'I am not good at that,' I chuckle. 'You are better at everything than you think you are,' they say and gently squeeze my shoulder. 'We'll miss you, Moony.' I nod, not being able to say it back.

Marc pushes Kai gently aside. 'My turn,' he says and hugs me tight. I laugh and hug him back. 'You better call when you arrive. I don't care if it's in the middle of the night,' he says. I smile. Marc always seemed like a very distant person, hard to read. But being here for a year has changed that. Maybe he needed a longer time to get used to me?

Although he keeps being a mystery. Marc and Mathieu were friends for a long time. They say they just grew apart, because they don't dislike each other and still get along. 'I promise I call,' I say and let him go. He pats my shoulder gently before returning to the others.

Maybe I should've said yes to that party. I have a lot of people to hug now and a plane to catch that won't wait for me. Colin is next in line and hugs me with his strong arms. We don't say anything, we just hug for a while. He kisses the top of my head in a friendly way and lets me go. I am glad we managed to be friends again.

James and Mathieu hug me at the same time. Surprised, I almost trip. They laugh and hold me tight. 'You two better wait until I am back to get married,' I say. 'Who says we are getting married?' James asks surprised. 'I don't know, just wait if you want to.' 'Okay,' Matt says. You can't imagine James without Mathieu or Mathieu without James. They are inseparable and I love it.

You should've seen them when they both realised they like each other, but were afraid to tell. Especially my brother, because he is a few years older and he was afraid he might go to prison. Luckily for him, James waited to announce his feelings until he was eighteen.

'Okay, okay. Let me say goodbye to my sister,' Juliette says and pulls Matt away from me. I smile at her. I never thought I would miss her. She was so awful, especially when she was a teenager. And it's not fun if your seven year older sister makes fun of you or is mean to you. She should've been someone I look up too. But I can look up to her now, and I am very grateful for that.

I hug my sister and then let her go. She softly kisses my forehead and then walks away. My dad wipes away a few tears before he embraces me. 'Ik ben zo ontzettend trots op je ,' he says and kisses my cheek. My father has always supported me, no matter what my mother said or did, no matter what other people thought. 'Dank je ,' I whisper. Some tears escape my eyes.

My father lets me go and gently wipes away my tears. He smiles proudly and stand steps away so I can hug Sophia. 'I am going to miss you,' she says with a crack in her beautiful voice. 'I am going to miss you too.' She starts sobbing and my tears have found a way out. How will I survive out there without her?

We must have been hugging for some time, because my brother starts talking. 'Renée, you really have to go if you want to catch your plane,' he says and points at the big clock behind him. I nod and let Sophia go. I kiss her for the last time – for now. 'I love you,' I say and kiss her cheek. 'I love you.'

I take my suitcase and walk away before saying anything else. I want to look back but I don't. A part of me hopes that Sophia follows me and asks me to stay, but I know she won't. I check in my luggage and make my way to security. I am my mother thankful for one thing. Because of her love for traveling, I know my way around an airport.

On my way to the gate, my phone starts ringing. I look at the screen and am surprised by who it is. Mother. I contemplate if I should pick up. Before I can make my choice it stops calling. I shrug my shoulders and hand my passport, plane ticket and ID over to the friendly lady. She checks it and nods. 'Have a nice flight.' 'Thanks.'

I board the plane and find my seat. My phone starts ringing again, it's my mother. Too busy with finding my seat and avoiding to be pushed by other people, I ignore the call. When I find my seat I sit and sigh in relieve. I am seated in the middle isle. My phone rings again and I sigh. 'Maybe you should pick up?' a young man says as he looks at his ticket and checks the number of the seat next to me.

I decide to listen to the stranger and pick up the phone. 'Mom.' It's silent on the other side of the phone, until I hear silent sobs. 'Renée?' she finally asks. 'Yes,' I say annoyed. 'I came to the airport, but everyone was already gone.' Her sobbing stops and now she just sounds sad. I nod, but she can't see that. She is silent for a while and makes some weird noises that sounds like her trying to say something.

'Are you going to say anything else? I think I should put my phone into plane mode.' My mother sighs. 'I am sorry. And I am proud of you for going to Stanford.' And with that said she hangs up the phone. Surprised I look at my screen. 'Bad news?' the stranger asks. His brown eyes light up when he smiles at me friendly. 'No. Just surprising words,' I say and smile back at him. He nods understandingly. His brown wavy hair bounces up and down as he nods.

'I am Amir,' he says and holds out his hand. 'Renée.' I shake his and smile. 'So what's your destination?' I ask as I let go of his hand. 'Stanford,' he says nodding proudly of himself. 'Me too!' His whole face lights up. 'What are you going for?' he asks. 'My PhD in biology,' I say and hold my head high. 'Aren't you a little young for that?' he frowns. 'Age doesn't really matters? It's about what is in here,' I says and tick with my finger on the side of my head.

Amir smiles and nods. 'So what are you going there for?' Amir chuckles. 'I err... I now sound stupid compared to you. But if you must now, I got a scholarship in physics. After a year I can go for my PhD too.' I widen my eyes. 'You are not stupid. And really, physics?' Amir starts laughing.

The stewards do their usual movements to a sound that should be the explanation if something went wrong. But you can't really understand any of that because it sounds like the microphone is in someone's mouth and the plane makes too much noise.

     

The translations in order:

'I am so very proud of you.'

'Thank you.'

Wordcount: 1350