Solar Eclipse of the Heart

The Flight

After finding my seat I quietly sat with my head against the window. I looked out watching the employees with their orange vests and thick head phones run around finishing some last minute things to get the plane up in the air. After another fifteen minutes the pilot's voice came over the intercom.

"Good afternoon ladies and gentleman. We will be departing in shortly. Please remain seated until you see the overhead light turn off. The weather here in beautiful San Antonio is 75 degrees. We have clear blue skies and a smooth flight ahead of us. Please give the flight attendants your attention as they go through our safety procedure. Thank you."

I remained quiet as I tried to focus on what the flight attendants were saying about what we need to do in case of an emergency. My mind kept wondering to the package that was in the overhead compartment. I had tried to figure out what it could possibly contain before I boarding my flight but to no avail. I kept repeatedly telling myself that it didn't matter but my curiosity was killing me. 

I felt the plain begin to move forward and pick up speed down the runway. Faster and faster it went until we had lifted off the ground and were beginning our ascent. Slipping my headphones into my ears I put on my mix of music and closed my window. I was exhausted and wanted to get as much sleep as possible on this flight. I closed my eyes and took a deep breathe relaxing myself, but it seemed someone had other ideas. I kept feeling a tap on my shoulder and that tap turned into someone gently shaking me. I sighed and opened my eyes and looked over to find a gentleman with a small yet deep scar on his right cheek observing me. 

"Can I help you?" I asked.

He silently watched me for a moment before asking me, "What is you name young lady?"

"My name is Harper."

With a simple nod of his head he turned away from me and looked back towards the front of the plane. I couldn't help but feel uncomfortable around this man. He looked to be at least 6'5" and built in such a way that he could probably snap me in half. I began to regret telling him my first name worried that he was the kind of man that had no problem with stalking other people. Trying to shake off this feeling of unease I opened my window and looked outside. I refused to put my other headphone back in just so I could hear when the man next to me made any movement. 

A ding from overhead caused me to jump a little making the man next to me look at me with a blank yet deadly expression. With a nervous smile I unbuckled my seat belt and tried to become more comfortable in my seat. Finally I sat with my legs underneath me and my head against the window and sighed, this is going to be a long flight.

After two grueling hours the plain finally landed. I was so relieved to be able to stand up and stretched ready to get out of these cramped seats. The man next to me never moved during the flight. He sat stock still with his head facing forward and his arms folded across his chest. Standing up I waited for him to grab his things and walk off the plain, instead he moved so that I could walk ahead of him. I grabbed my bag from under the seat in front of me and slid out of our row reaching up for the package. I walked off that plane as quickly as I could with the scarred face gentleman right behind me.