Through the Shadows Together

Chapter Two: An Unexpected Homecoming

This...was, truly unexpected. Truly.

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Ace's POV:

"Attention passengers, Flight 221 from New York to Grimsborough has just arrived at Gate 3. Please proceed to baggage claim or make your way to the arrivals area. Once again, Flight 221 from New York has arrived at Gate 3. Thank you for your patience and cooperation. Welcome to Grimsborough, and we hope you have a pleasant stay."

Everything looks completely...different.

As I stood by the conveyor belt, waiting for my checked suitcase, my hand nervously fiddled with the strap of my carry-on bag. The low hum of the baggage carousel blended into the background noise of announcements and chatter.

My eyes wandered around as I took it all in. The airport terminal was brighter, sharper, and more polished than I remembered. Although the old familiar layout was still there, the terminals were more spread out. It had grown bigger, stretching out in all directions.

When my suitcase appeared, I reached out, lifting it off the conveyor with a quiet sigh.

I couldn't help but observe the airport walls that once had a faded charm now look sleek and smooth and the air around felt more cleaner and sharper. The windows had been replaced with a massive skylight, flooding the entire place with light. It was almost blinding compared to how I remembered it. Before, it was dimmer and cosier. Now, it made everything feel so open.

More people filled the terminals; the crowd moved quickly, almost as if everyone was in a rush. Some were dressed sharply in suits, their faces focused and unreadable, while others strolled by in casual clothes, taking their time. The whole atmosphere felt different, faster and more hurried.

While dragging my carry-on bag and checked suitcase, I looked over at the new establishments, but...I found myself glancing at where the old Espresso Express coffee shop used to be. It used to be my favourite coffee place; the only place where Jones and I would always hang out while waiting for our flights. We'd sit for hours, sipping coffee, swapping stories, or just passing the time.

But now, a chic café stood in its place. The worn-out benches that used to sag in the middle had been replaced by polished chairs and small tables, surrounded by potted plants that added a touch of life to the space. The counter was busy with customers, filled with a colourful array of drinks and pastries that made the old coffee shop feel like a distant memory.

Standing there, it struck me how much had changed – not just the café, but everything I had known. It was as if everything I had remembered had been erased; it barely felt like the same airport I once knew.

I moved through the busy crowd, my footsteps echoing slightly on the polished floors. My ears mused to the sound of hurried footsteps and murmured conversations filling the air, but the faint, urgent announcements still cut through all the noise.

As I approached my designated meeting spot, my heart seemed to slow down, weighed with the memories that came rushing through me. With every step, the memories hit me harder.

I paused, pulling my bags beside me. I took a moment to take in a particular scene before me. The spot where I stood now felt so...familiar, but in a distant, aching way.

It was here...five years ago, the last time I had been at this airport where I had said my goodbyes before flying off to Pacific Bay.

I could vividly remember how their eyes lingered on me, the unspoken words weighing heavier than the miles I was about to cross. At this very spot, they had all been here, standing with me, their faces full of smiles, tears, and worries. Jones, Alex, Cathy, Nathan, Ramirez, and Grace – the very people I could never have deserved, nor could I have asked for anyone better. The same faces that had been with me through everything. At that moment, it felt like I was leaving a piece of myself behind with them.