Mayday

Chapter One

       I've always been afraid of the smallest things, clowns, doctors, I even was scared of watermelon for some time after Eli told me I'd grow one in my stomach. Ali would always tell me that they were irrational and that there was no point being afraid of them. It got so bad, Eli had to sign me up for a few therapy sessions, they worked for a while, but after the money ran out, I volunteered to quit therapy. After all of the fears and phobias that still haunt me to this day, there definitely is a number one... planes. I simply do not understand how it is safe to be traveling thousands of feet in the air and have to rely on one person and a machine to keep you from dying! I would do anything not to have to ride on a plane, anything! Apparently, my begging didn't keep Eli from his decision, that we had to move to the Philippines. I'm not complaining though, if it will keep Eli Alive, by all means, I will ride on a plane. When I was eight, my parents left Eli and me, he was basically the raiser and guardian of me starting at 16. Eli always said that because our parents were such bad people, that he would show me what it meant to be a good person. He saved up money and we took a cruise to some country in Africa. Nigeria I believe. We spent the whole summer building homes and water wells and feeding people. It was amazing! Well, all until Eli got sick. During the last month of summer, Eli caught a disease known as Ebola. It made him really weak and we got to go home. I cried all day every day knowing that the disease was fatal and we didn't have money. I was sitting at home one day and I heard Eli start crying, I've never, ever heard Eli cry in my life before and I thought he hurt himself. I ran out into the kitchen in our small apartment to see him holding a letter and crying. Some scientists in the Philippines found what they think is a potential cure for Ebola and invited my brother out. They provided two plane tickets, in two planes, Eli could not travel with others anymore as it would be an insane risk. We of course said yes, but I was terrified because it meant that I would have to go on a plane, which was bad enough as it is, but alone. I didn't want to do it but it was for Eli, and I would do anything for Eli.