Reality is a Fleeting Moment

Chapter Twenty-Two

Izzy POV

"Bye, Maryanne. Bye, Oliver." I whispered to my adoptive parents as I hugged them goodbye, trying to contain my tears. "I'll miss you."

"Don't worry, Grizzy-Bear," Maryanne had tears streaming down her face. "We're only a phone call and a 13-hour flight away."

I chuckled slightly as I approached the front door. "I hope you remember that you're not just the people who adopted me and became the parents I never had. You didn't just adopt me; you saved me."

Oliver smiled weakly. "Oh, tosh. Anyone would've done the same in our position."

"But that's the thing: they didn't, you did." My phone pinged with a notification. "Oh, my Uber's here. I gotta go." I grabbed my bags and walked outside, then paused in the doorway and looked back at them. "Maryanne, remember when I was ten and you told me you had found a quote that said 'Love cures people,' but you couldn't remember the rest of the quote?"

Maryanne nodded. "I do. Why do you bring it up?"

"Because the full quote is 'Love cures people - both the ones who give it and the ones who receive it.' Thank you for helping to try and cure me, but I'm sorry that I can't be cured."

"You know, Grizzy-Bear, love isn't something you find. Love is something that finds you."

And as I walked out to my Uber and put my stuff in the boot, a single tear fell from my eye.

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"Apologies, ladies and gentlemen." A flight worker abruptly said as I was waiting for my flight. "The flight from Seabrook to Manchester will be delayed for a few hours–"

"How many hours is a few?" A random guy asked.

"Unfortunately, I don't know exactly how long. But I believe a safe estimate right now would be around five hours, maybe?"

Five hours wouldn't be that bad, but an hour after the initial announcement, the flight worker came back. "Ladies and gentlemen, I've learned that the flight from Seabrook to Manchester will be delayed another ten hours."

This incited a riot in the airport. "Ten more hours?!" Someone yelled. "That's ridiculous!" I rolled my eyes and put on my headphones as the flight worker tried to calm everyone else down. Eventually, the anger was able to subside once the worker explained that flights would be rebooked and stuff.

So, as flights were rebooked and hotel arrangements were made, eventually it was only me and two other people at the gate. But, even they rebooked their flight and left. "Uhm... ma'am?" The flight worker began timidly.

"Yeah?" I took off my headphones and gave them my full attention.

"Are you not gonna reschedule your flight?"

"No, I'm not really in a rush, so I'll keep my flight the same." I was about to go back to waiting peacefully, then a thought hit me, "Would it be possible for me to leave the airport, but come back in time for my flight?"

The worker pondered for a moment. "I mean... yeah. You'd have to redo all of your checks and stuff, though."

"That's fine," I replied as I stood up from my seat, "I've got nothing to hide."

"Well, in that case, would you like me to keep your bags behind the counter while you're gone? It wouldn't be a problem since it's only you."

I did my best to smile like a normal person. "That would be superb, thank you."