A year on Venus

49: Gone

Chapter 49

I had already reached the stairs of the flight. Just one pace more until I reached the first stairs when I heard someone shouted my name. The voice was so familiar, and without turning around, I knew who it was.

"Just...just...wanted a proper goodbye." The person finished, panting.

It took all the fibres in me not to cry. He came here, just to say a proper goodbye?

I looked at him before gulping down saliva, I didn't talk, I just focused on raising my head upwards, I was fighting hard not to cry and the stubborn tears were threatening to erupt. I finally closed my eyes and waited a while. Then I opened them, I bowed my head down, before looking at him, "thank you! Really thanks Adams! I couldn't have asked for a better friend. You're just so nice!"

He smiled sadly at me, I suspected it must be because I was leaving. So I added, "i'll be back pretty soon. After all I can't afford missing exam. Just make sure to attend class so you educate me up on things once i'm back." I said with a smile and twirled to leave.

"Be safe!" I told him as i climbed towards the entrance of the plane. I didn't want to turn around. I didn't want to cry.

"Be safe too Jasmine! Stay happy!" He shouted. And still without turning around I smiled and then waved my hands above my shoulder as i continued climbing the flight stairs fixing the bag i hung on my shoulder, which serves as my hand luggage.

Once on the plane I said out my dua's and pressed my head to the window as I awaited the plane to took off. Finally I could see my parents. I could see my brother. I could see his wife. I could visit grandma and Ilham. I closed my eyes and waited as the flight attendant's were talking, saying their usual dos and don'ts. I opened my eyes only to put my phone on flight mode. I knew we would be taking off shortly, so I ended up buckling myself up and drifting to sleep.

My destination would be Abuja. And from there I would take off to Borno State. Just the thought of being home makes me smile. Allah knows I couldn't wait to be home. I've miss my family so much, my room ya Allah, our kitchen, how I used to curl up in my bed like a cat, I've miss even the smell of my house. I miss everything about Safar Mala Kachalla residence, right from our gate men, to the maids, to the fridge, how i used to make oatmeal on our kitchen island, curling up in my room to study geography, chemistry or biology, walking down the staircase and walking straight to my mom's room, i miss it all.

When i finally found myself descending the staircase of the plane. I couldn't be happier. I was so glad.

Wow! What a chaotic airport! Never before seen an airport got this busy in my life. But now that I think of it, maybe it's because i was in Edinburgh and population there ain't even a match here?

I found a place and calmly dropped my hand luggage before sitting down waiting for the time the flight to Borno would click. Suddenly a man that's obviously an adult took a seat beside me. He looked disrupted, but I quickly took my eyes off him. Then another lady, holding a boy's hand that I expected to be her son came and sat beside him. She was crying. Then I suspected they must be family.

"Mommy when can we see Haroon again?" I heard the boy said in a sad voice, but the mom didn't answer, she broke in tears instead. "Stop asking mommy about Haroon okay?" The man said as he scooped the boy off the floor and placed him on his thighs.

I didn't know what's happening with them. But I've sympathized with them — though inwardly. Suddenly they started announcing passengers to Borno were about taking off. Because once I rose my head up I was met with the tannoy announcing the flight to borno leaving in ten. I quickly got up, slunging my bag pack on my shoulder. And immediately I felt something touched my hand. Suddenly I felt a hand in mine.