Airplanes

Prologue 1/2

"Mom? When is Dad coming home?" Kylee called down the stairs from the spot on her bed. She could just hear her Mom's exasperated sigh travelling from all the way from the study.

"Kylee, I've already said a thousand times. I don't know when your Father will be home."

Disappointed, Kylee turned her attention back to her Instagram feed. Kylee's Dad's never been out this late -he had missed dinner, and he never misses dinner. He loves his family more than anything, always giving his all to satisfy Kylee and little baby Jay and their Mom, always insisting we eat as a family. But, he was hours late tonight and it was now dark. They had been forced to eat without him. Kylee tossed her phone onto the bean bag in the corner and swung her legs off the bed, heading to Jay's room. He was sleeping soundly in his crib, completely unaware of their Dad's absence. A feeling or foreboding settling itself in her stomach, Kylee carefully cradled her brother in her arms, retrieved her phone and met their Mom in the room at the end of the hall.

"Mom? I don't feel good. I think something's happened to Dad. What if he was caught?"

"Oh honey, your Father's been doing this for a very long time, it would be unlikely that he's caught all of a sudden. I'm sure he's just running late with a client."

"Yeah, you're probably right." Kylee mumbled, turning out of the room and going back up to her room. But, Kylee did not think her Mom was right. She still believed something bad was going on, and after tucking Jay comfortably back in her own duvet, she opened her emergency suitcase, double-checking its contents. After adding a few more essential items such as earbuds, a phone charger, toiletries, first aid, and extra clothes, she closed the bag and moved on to Jay's and her Mom's. After everything Kylee believed they would need was packed, she grabbed the insolated-cooler-bag thingy her Mom always uses to store food on picnics and filled it with fruits and veggies and bread and baby food. Worst case scenario, they would actually have to use these things (the whole family hoped they never would) and leave, and Kylee prayed that her Dad would come home and tell them "We're safe" and help her unpack the food and return their suitcases.

But more than anything, Kylee prayed that her Dad would stop it all. That he would get a regular job and work regular hours and not come home panting and gasping for air like he'd just run for his life. She prayed that she wouldn't have to worry about his or the family's safety and that she wouldn't have to live in paranoia, constantly unpacking and repacking their bags. She prayed that one day, they could be truly safe.

                                                                ***

Kylee woke up to the front door slamming closed. Looking around, she realised that she had fallen asleep curled up with Jay on her bed, the floor littered with clothing items and unnecessary items that she had taken out of the bags to make room for more essential things. Sitting by her door, were all of the said bags. Her Dad's voice bellowed through the house, the floor shook and Kylee swore she heard something fall off a shelf.

"WE ARE NOT SAFE"

On hearing those words that she had been dreading so much, Kylee rushed to grab Jay and their luggage, her Mom meeting her to help with the baby. Kylee counted the things in her hands.

Baby bag with extra bottles? Check.

Food bag with extra baby food? Check.

Jay's suitcase with extra diapers and his favourite teddy? Check.

Kylee's suitcase with her favourite book, Stuff I've Been Feeling Lately by Alicia Cook, and her phone? Check?

Mom's suitcase and jewellery? Check.

Dad's suitcase and his favourite book series, Harry Potter? Check.

"COME ON LET'S GO, LET'S GO!" Kylee's Dad's voice boomed, again.

Scrambling to follow Mr Thompson out the door and throwing everything in the trunk, they all piled in and clasped hands, saying a quick prayer for their safety, before speeding off to the airport.