always and forever

⎡𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕥𝕨𝕠 ⎦

    I sighed, allowing Bryn to pull me in different directions while she tried to find the big digital board that displayed the flights and their statuses. There were plasma screens of arrival and departure times on the wall of the airport. People were lined up at the check in desk with suitcases and baggage. There was a sculpture of a whale with water cascading from it's mouth and flowing down it's tail flukes. In the background soft classical music played. I tried pointing to the screens.

    "Bryn," I nudged, trying to get her attention, "Bryn." She waved a hand at me, taking about three steps forward before coming back and shaking her head worriedly.

    "I can't see them!" she wailed, "I've looked everywhere! I looked down the corridor and I know we haven't passed them because I was looking for them all the way through and I know they're not on the ceiling or the floor because that would be unconventional-" she paused, catching my expression, "what?" she asked, "was it because I said they wouldn't be on the floor or the ceiling?" I shook my head fondly at her, pointing at the masses of people.

    "Can you see or are you too short?" I asked, looking at the mess of thickened brunette curls that stopped abruptly just below her earlobes. Pouting, she raised herself on her tippy toes, huffing in exasperation before grabbing her luggage and power walking towards the masses. As we got to the group, I realised the familiar look of distaste and annoyance on people's faces. Among the sea of irritated and annoyed faces, there were old and young all who whined with an equal premise of complaints. I felt my heart drop. I tried moving forwards through the crowds, stopping only when I saw the familiar sight of the word DELAYED flashing in vibrant red letters. I felt my head spin. The flight to Germany alone would take at least three hours and now there would be at least six hours until we got on the plane. I must have been in the way of the board because when I was back in the land of the living, people were pushing past me, their faces crinkling at me with distaste. 

    Blushing with embarrassment at my current situation, I moved out of the way, waiting for Bryn. Looking around, the airport was relatively busy which was probably due to the delayed flights now I thought about it. Looking around, there were the voices of the young and old, their tones either subdued with the anticipation of separation or excited to be leaving on vacation. Suitcases being dropped onto the conveyer belts and the cheery welcomes of the check-in assistants. And in the background there was the seasonal music and the tinkle of sculptured water features. And all of these ambient sounds were punctuated periodically by the sound of a aeroplane taking off or landing on the tarmac runway outside. I looked around again, seeing in the arrivals lounge there was a curious mixture of bored and excited people. Some lounged on the low comfy chairs and others bounced on their toes, with coffees in hand. I knew there was a cafe close by. By the look of those styrofoam cups, there would have to be somewhere we could buy cookies for the long hours that awaited us. I frowned, pulling out my phone to quickly text Bryn before going off towards a rather long line which looked like the right line for cookies. Wanting to see that my flight was truly delayed, I had barely turned around when I saw the angry flashing letters. Sighing defeatedly, I continued on my search for snacks.

    I was focused on the time and moving forward when other people did, when suddenly I felt something bump my leg. Stumbling, I looked down only to find out it wasn't a something, it was a someone. 

    A little girl sat on the floor, rubbing her forehead, mumbling something that sounded apologetic and extremely shy. I smiled, crouching down. I didn't usually talk to children but there was something about her. Maybe it was her hair and eyes were the colour of dark roasted beans but her skin was all latte. She had that shy look about her that teens often get when they've grown too much too fast, like they aren't really sure about being a fully functional human just yet. She was skinny, but the way her clothes hung gave away the muscle beneath; and always in her wake were heads turning to watch her go. Maybe it was this exact behaviour and exact looks that reminded me of Bryn's little sister back at home. Maybe it was because this little girl reminded me of another sister I had never met half way across the world. She must get this a lot, I mused, the way someone's mouth would hang open before they remembered to close it. The way people would openly think of her innocent beauty. The little girl turned and looked up at me, her lips pulling taut in a slight and shy smile.