Form of You

Chapter 2: Runnin'

"All I wanna do is forget..."

I arrived to JFK Airport ready for a fresh start, ready to forget. New York would always be home, but I had to leave. "For my sanity, I had to leave. "

What better way to regroup than on the other side of the country. I was so happy that Coach Freeman scouted me from NAU's team. I got playing time, but not nearly enough for me and shit got real, so a nigga had to bounce.

"FLIGHT 32-NY to Los Angeles: Now preparing for takeoff. Please fasten your seat belts and remain seated", the flight attendant stated as the plane ascended from the ground. I took a deep breath as I felt the motion of the plane change altitude. The landing gears lifted into the aircraft as the flight attendant reviewed further safety information.

My mind was elsewhere as I tuned her out. Gripping the armrest, my palms began to sweat. I squeezed my eyes tight as I fought to breathe. "In through your nose, out through your mouth", the mantra played in my head to soothe my anxiety. My breathing began to steady as I looked out the window. 

"In through your nose, out through your mouth" 

The sky was grey, an aftermath of the storm that delayed my flight and kept me in this airport 1 hour longer than necessary. I pressed play on my Apple Music app as Drake's Sooner than Later lulled me to sleep.

The events of the past 2 weeks replayed in my mind: my younger brother, Julian sitting in the hospital with me as the nurse bandaged my wrist. My mother's screams as she threw my clothes out of our apartment, "YOU'RE A DISGRACE!!" 

I jolted awake from my nightmare as the plane slightly shook from light turbulence. "If only it was just a dream!" I stared at the other passengers to distract me from my memories as my breathing grew more ragged.

"In through your nose, out through your mouth. BREATHE, JACE! You're ok." 

A woman a few rows ahead of me was attempting to calm down her scared toddler son. "Shh, it's ok Colby. Mommy's here. I got you baby". I swallowed the lump in my throat as I felt my eyes water. I cleared my throat as I looked down and saw a hand extended to me holding a bottle of water.

I looked to my left to see a handsome man  with kind blue eyes. 

"Looks like you need this more than me", he chuckled. 

"Thanks". I said as I took the bottle from him. 

"You ok?", he asked his voice gentle with concern.

"Yea, I'm cool", I sipped from the bottle. The cooling feeling of the water calmed me a bit. 

"Aight, cool. Just so you know, I am a doctor so I can save your life from just about anything except crying babies", he joked as he nodded back to the mom soothing her child.

"Dang, you were too good to be true", I chuckled as my gaze fell back on the now sleeping child.

 "Ayye, you can't win em all. I hate flying too, but we should be landing soon", he reassured me.

"Yea, I'm sure I'll survive...Thanks man", I nodded.

"No problem", he nodded back before returning back to his laptop. My eyes fell back on the woman once more, as I wished for simpler times and cherished memories with my own mother. About an hour later, after making it through baggage claim and security, I stood outside of Airport calling for an Uber to take me to LAU's campus. As the sun shined on all the travelers, the man from earlier appeared next to me. "Was he everywhere?"

"Hey, you lived! Surprised you ain't kissing the ground", he grinned as he texted on his phone.

 "Yea, I was thiiiss close though, " I said almost squeezing my fingers together for emphasis.

 "Thanks for the water, G", I said extending my first for a dap. 

He returned it and smiled, "Aye man, it's nothing. Costs nothing to help someone". 

His ride appeared before mine as he grabbed his suitcases and headed to the black SUV waiting for him. "Hey, what's ya name kid?", he asked as he lifted the luggage into the trunk. "

Uh, Jace.", I replied quickly. 

"Well, Jace, I hope you remember that you ain't alone out here. We all have to battle through storms before we can shine in the sun", he stated matter of fact lay as he looked to the sky. Not expecting that level of wisdom from someone so young, shook me a bit. 

"Yea-yea. I'll try to...remember that.", I stuttered and looked to the sky, while he opened the car door.

"Welcome to L.A, Jace", the man said. With that, he was gone before I could even ask his name. My eyes fell to the sky once more while pondering his words. My phone chimed as a Blue Toyota Camry pulled up in front of me to take me to my destination. I gave once last glance at the airport as I grabbed the handles to my luggage. Instead of facing my storms, all I could do was duck & cover. I'll battle the storms another day, whenever I can catch my breath from runnin'...