Snow on Christmas

A new direction

The airport was buzzing with life as Ash stepped through the doors, her heart pounding with purpose. Liora's journal was safely tucked in her bag, just like all her own belongings. Yesterday evening she made a decision: she would follow Liora to Malta. She couldn't let this story end in Valencia.

So, she looked up the KM Malta flight at around eight (08:17 to be exact) and bought a ticket. It felt like a crazy, spur-of-the-moment decision, but Ash couldn't think of a better way to help ease Liora's fear of flying than by being on the same plane. She was determined to make up for not finding the charm in time for Liora's other flight.

Hopefully, Liora wouldn't be mad at her. Mateo really set a fire of hope in Ash, that Liora likes her, too. But maybe she was just complaining about her, because she didn't know that Ash had the wrong number and couldn't reach her. She probably thought Ash wouldn't care about her or her charm.

As Ash was checking in with the ticket on her phone, her eyes darted around the bustling terminal, scanning the crowd in hopes of spotting Liora. The anticipation thrummed in her chest, pushing her to stand on her tiptoes for a better view. The airport was filled with life: families saying goodbye, solo travellers rushing past, and flight attendants striding purposefully to their gates.

With a quick glance at her watch, she moved toward the security checkpoint, her heart sinking slightly at the sight of the long queue ahead. The line snaked through the barriers, filled with people juggling their bags, passports, and phones. Ash sighed but steadied herself. She couldn't afford to lose time or focus; her goal was clear.

During the time she spent in the queue, every minute going a few steps forward, she texted Nicolas. He was the only one knowing about her trip to Spain, so why not keep him up to date about the next crazy trip idea. As long as he doesn't judge her again. She formulated a long message, summarising her search through Valencia the last days and meeting Mateo yesterday. Concluding, she admitted on having bought a new flight ticket.

After she passed the security, she found a seat for herself and sat down. She yawned, the early hour weighing heavily on her. The terminal buzzed with activity, but despite scanning the crowd, she couldn't spot Liora anywhere. Resigned, she let out a small sigh and leaned back in her chair. Her eyes drifted shut for a moment, the exhaustion of the morning catching up to her. She told herself it was just a quick rest, just long enough to gather her energy before continuing the search.

The sound of a new message drew her attention to her phone. It was Nicolas' answer on her long message.

"Remind me to give you a little bit of brain when you return", he simply messaged, and Ash rolled her eyes. She wasn't in the mood to deal with his teasing right now.

She let her head fall back again and closed her eyes and listened to the crowd. She wasn't comfortable enough to fall asleep, but her body would be grateful for a bit of rest.

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The air was cold, as Liora got out of the car. She waved goodbye to Camila, then set off to the airport doors. Even though she was calmer than the last time, she still was very nervous. The upcoming flight, again without her charm, made her heart pounding. The high glass front made her swallow.

Liora stepped through the sliding glass doors of the airport. The faint hum of chatter and rolling luggage echoed in the spacious terminal, mingling with the metallic clink of announcements over the intercom. The polished floors reflected the soft glow of overhead lights, and the festive garlands strung along the walls reminded her of the holiday season.

She hesitated for a moment, her eyes sweeping across the busy scene. Travellers hurried past with determined strides, while others lingered, clutching steaming cups of coffee or scanning departure boards. The sheer scale of it all felt overwhelming, a stark contrast to the quiet streets outside. Taking a deep breath, she tightened her grip on her bag and moved forward, her steps purposeful but tinged with hesitation. The weight of the upcoming flight pressed on her shoulders, and a small sting of anxiety flickered in her chest.