One Short Story A Day

October 6, 2024

Prompt: Describe what it's like to travel with a crippling fear of airplanes

As the plane took off, Sarah felt her heart pounding in her chest. She gripped the armrests of her seat tightly, her knuckles turning white. The fear of flying had consumed her for as long as she could remember, but she never imagined it would be this intense.

The sound of the engines roared in her ears, sending shivers down her spine. The turbulence made her stomach churn, and she felt like she was going to be sick. She closed her eyes and tried to steady her breathing, but the panic was overwhelming.

Suddenly, the lights flickered and the plane jolted violently. Sarah's eyes flew open in terror as she looked around at the other passengers, who were all screaming and crying. The plane seemed to be plummeting towards the ground at an alarming speed.

In a moment of clarity amidst the chaos, Sarah remembered a trick she had read about to help calm her nerves. She closed her eyes and visualized herself on a calm beach, the sound of waves lapping at the shore. She focused on her breathing, inhaling deeply and exhaling slowly.

Miraculously, Sarah felt a sense of peace wash over her. The fear that had paralyzed her moments before began to subside, replaced by a feeling of calm determination. She realized that she had to overcome her fear if she wanted to survive this ordeal.

As the plane continued to shake and rattle, Sarah forced herself to unbuckle her seatbelt and make her way to the front of the aircraft. She knocked on the cockpit door and begged the pilots to let her in, using every ounce of courage she had left.

To her surprise, the pilots opened the door and welcomed her inside. They explained that they were experiencing engine failure and needed her help to manually guide the plane to safety. With a steely resolve, Sarah took her place in the co-pilot's seat and began to assist the pilots in navigating through the storm.

Despite her crippling fear of airplanes, Sarah discovered a newfound sense of purpose and bravery within her. She refused to let her fear dictate her actions any longer, and she was determined to save not only herself but all the other passengers on board.

As the plane descended towards the runway, Sarah closed her eyes and whispered a silent prayer. When the wheels touched down safely, she felt an overwhelming sense of relief wash over her. She had conquered her fear and emerged victorious, forever changed by the harrowing experience.

From that day on, Sarah no longer feared airplanes. Instead, she saw them as a symbol of her strength and resilience in the face of her greatest fear. And she knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, she would always have the courage to face them head-on.