The 737 // A Short Story
Death is inevitable. Its the first promise made to us at birth. And unlike some of the other promises that are made throughout our lifetimes, death isn't a lie.
There isn't a single thing a person could do to prevent their impending death. However some people try to jar with fate, and prolong the consequences of birth.
Attempting to cheat death is something that can not be tolerated. Punishment for attempting to do so, only results in more gruesome ramifications.
* * * * * * * * * *
30 minutes, the text message read.
Although the message was short and sweet and probably did not contain any relevant information to an outsider, it meant everything to me.
I refrain from crying out with joy, and quickly start maneuvering around my small hotel room, gathering any items that I deemed of importance.
Most of the belongings that I carelessly shoved into my bag, belonged to my daughter, Faith. She was almost a year and two months old, however traveling with her all of these months had been a nightmare as toddlers required an over abundance of items to be properly taken care of.
Not even five minutes later I was all packed and ready to go.
There were clothes strewn on the floor, the television was still on, and I left the door to the bathroom slightly cracked.
All of this was an effort to make it appear that I had only gone out for a bit, and would be back momentarily.
However if Jason did show up here, like I expected him to, every minute that he waited for my return would be in vain; because, once I made my departure I'd never be returning to this hotel, let alone this dreadful state ever again.
"Time to go baby girl," I say strapping Faith inside of her stroller.
Aside from Faith's stroller and her conspicuous baby bag that I strategically hide our belongings in, we were leaving with nothing more than the clothes on our backs.
The thought didn't bother me, as I had plenty of money stashed away for my convenience.
I was loaded, even before I married Jason, so buying new necessities every time Faith and I settled down wasn't a huge issue.
That's exactly why we were residing in this crappy hotel in the first place.
The carpet of our room was sticky, the paint on the walls was peeling, and I'm pretty sure something - or multiple somethings- had died in this very room.
All in all, it wasn't screaming Maria Wellington.
Jason knew this, and a cheap hotel certainly wasn't the first place he would search for Faith and I.
He knew my taste- expensive, elegant, and exotic. This hotel was the exact opposite.
And although I'd rather be hiding out somewhere more upscale, it has kept Faith and I safe for the last week. That fact alone was enough for me to ignore all of the unpleasantries that came along with the territory.
The elevator ride down to the lounge was a long one. In reality the time that passed had to be less than a minute, but my nerves were getting the best of me.
And for good reason too.
I had approximately 24 minutes to get down the street to the restaurant I was suppose to meet my contact.
Being late was not an option.
The next ten minutes was all a blur of unrecognizable faces and buildings, that I deemed unimportant. At this time the only thing on my mind was making it to The 737 and receiving new identification for Faith and I.
A flight to Europe was already booked under our new names and the plane was scheduled for take off less than four hours from now.
Everything was going according to plan.
Upon arriving at The 737, Faith started crying uncontrollably and couldn't be consoled until I pushed her stroller into the bathroom, picked her up, and rocked her tiny frame in my arms while hushing her under my breath.
Eventually Faith stopped crying, but she started back up every time I placed her back in the stroller.
There was less than ten minutes now, until my contact arrived and I desperately needed to get out of this bathroom.
With that thought solely in mind, I abandon the stroller for the time being and exit the bathroom in search of a secluded table.
As my eyes were scanning the room in search of an unoccupied table, Jason came into my line of view.
I blinked twice, rubbed my eyes with that back of my hand and bolted for the only exit in sight once I realized that he was far from a figment of my imagination.
He was real, and in the same room as Faith and I.
The staircase is the only escape I had from him, and I'll be damned if I didn't take it.
In an anxiety ridden moment, I glanced over my shoulder only to make eye contact with the very man I despised the most.
A ghost of a smile appears on the devil's lips and before I had a chance to comprehend what all of this meant he was heading toward my direction.
After almost a year of running from Jason, Faith and I were close to being able to settle down again. And now we were seconds away from being caught.
The very thought was enough to have me feeling defeated- all of my efforts this past year have been in vain- but I used the intense emotions that pumped through my veins as ammunition to keep moving forward, taking the stairs two, and sometimes three at a time.
When I finally reached the top of the stairwell I realized my mistake all to late. From here there was no where else to go. This was the top floor of the building and the only exit was being closely guarded by Jason.
"There you are," Jason smirks reaching the rooftop café only seconds after I had. "I think it's time we finally go home."
There is nothing I wouldn't do to stop Jason from obtaining me once again.
Frantically I look around once more trying to find another escape route. And much to my chagrin I found one.
If the God above wasn't going to help me; and the devil was preventing me from descending then my only option was off.
Off the building.
Faith started to cry once again, but I didn't pay her any mind, as my goal was all consuming.
Before Jason could anticipate my next move, I was running toward the edge of the building and the jumping off of the roof.
The air was cold, the wind was howling in my ear, and Faith was screaming uncontrollably.
In my haste, I had forgotten all about the reason I've been fighting so hard all of these months.
Although my decision to deliver Faith to her untimely death wasn't planned, it was for the best.
I'd rather Faith die with me, then live with Jason.
* * * * * * * * * *
December 14th, 2016
Maria Fells, 24, jumped off of the popular rooftop café, The 737. Her one year old daughter, Faith, was being held by her mother at the time of impact.
Fells died at the scene and Faith although in critical condition survived. As of right now doctors expect her to make a full recovery and hopefully her father, Jason Fells will be able to take her home in time for the holiday.
