*Prologue*
Korin is a 34 year old English teacher who is married to a man named Robbie who supported her with whatever she wanted to do in life.
Ever since she was a little girl she has wanted to travel cross country on a train all over the United States.
Being a native Floridian, she'd never seen the mountains up close-- she'd never experienced snow except one time when she was younger but she doesn't remember it.
So as a teenager she made a pact with herself to save up enough money to take the trip of her dreams. A trip that would last a month and a half.
The time had come and she was 100% ready for it. But she has never learned to expect the unexpected.
*Part One*
"Hey hun, are you about ready to go? I have to drop you off at the airport by 5 remember? I don't want you to miss your train!" Robbie yelled from the bottom of the stairs.
"Yeah, I'm coming babe! Give me two minutes. I'm trying to find the ring my grandfather gave me. You know I never go anywhere without it." She said while searching through every jewelry box she owned.
"Okay but we gotta go Korin so please hurry!"
She drowned him out with her thoughts. The only thing she wanted at that time was that ring. It meant everything to her.
Her grandfather died when she was 13 years old. They were very close. The only items she had left of his was a gold ring that she found for him in the dirt when she was a kid that she'd given to him and a sweater that he used to wear that still had his scent.
She and her grandfather used to talk about travelling together all the time so this was her way of taking him along on the trip.
"Got it! How'd you end up in my make up case? Whatever. Okay! I found it! Let's go!"
On their way to the airport the traffic was brutal. It was a Wednesday evening at 4:15 PM. It was going to take a while to get through it but luckily their home wasn't far from the airport. They lived literally 5 minutes away within driving distance.
Both Robbie and Korin groaned as they sat in traffic, barely moving an inch.
"Ugh. What is the hold up?!" Korin said under her breath.
She looks over at Robbie who's frustration is showing through his grip of the steering wheel.
"I'm sorry babe. I should've hurried. I always forget about the traffic this time of day." She said.
"It's alright. As long as we get you to the airport on time we'll be fine. I'd hate for you to miss this vacation. You've wanted it for so long." He says while giving her a sweet grin.
She ran her fingers through his hair down to his neck gently massaging it then resting her arm on the back of his seat.
After about 20 minutes the traffic finally moved at a steady pace and continued until they made it to the airport.
"4:50! You better hurry Korin! You still have to get through security and rush to your gate!"
Korin leans over to give Robbie a kiss on the lips then quickly grabs her bags from the backseat.
"Bye baby! I love you!" He said.
Korin, with the plane ticket in her mouth turns to Robbie and waves as she nearly hurts herself trying to get inside.
Once she checked in her luggage, had gone through security and made her way to the gate to board the plane, she was completely out of breath.
But she was so relieved that she made it in time before take off.
She found her seat which was between two other passengers and squeezed her way in.
She sent a quick text to Robbie to let him know that she made it on and that she loved him.
Message:
"See ya in two months baby! Be good, I love you so much!"
Reply:
"I love you more baby. Have a safe trip!"
She smiled then turned on the airplane mode and plugged in her ear buds so she could lay back and relax.
The flight was approximately 3 almost 4 hours from Jacksonville, FL to Denver, CO. she knew that she would have a hard time getting to sleep on the plane but she would definitely try just to avoid boredom.
The passengers were provided with an in-flight meal and movie but she wound up sleeping through both.
The next thing you know, the pilot comes on the overhead speaker welcoming the passengers to Denver.
Korin jumped up out of her sleep to the loud bell letting them know that they could unfasten their safety belts and prepare for exit.
She noticed that both the people she sat between had already departed. She was one the last passengers off the plane.
She quickly grabbed her bag out of the overhead compartment then exited heading straight for the baggage claim area.
It was now 9:45 PM and she was totally exhausted. Her travel package included a one night stay at a 4 star hotel in Denver so that the travellers could rest up for the following days excursion.
There were a few people standing over at the bus terminal on the airport lot waiting to be transported to the hotel. She figured that's where she needed to be as well.
While walking over she had her head down checking out her intinerary.
"Oops! I'm so sorry. Please excuse me!" She said as she accidently bumped into someone and dropped her paperwork.
He knelt down to help her, "No need to apologize." He said with a smile while handing her her things.
She glances at him quickly and returns the smile. "Thank you. You didn't have to help."
"It was my pleasure."
They both stand up. She nods her head as if to thank him again and continues her walk to the bus terminal.
He stares as she walks away, admiring her beauty.
The bus arrives to pick up its passengers for the short trip to the hotel. Everyone boards and gets settled in their seats but the driver doesn't leave right away.
"I'm sorry folks, it looks like we have one more passenger then we'll be on our way." The driver said.
Korin, sitting on the right side of the bus stares out the window and notices the young man she bumped into on her way over to the terminal.
"He's the passenger we're waiting for?" She thought.
He climbs onto the bus, "I apologize. I hurt my ankle earlier today so I can't walk as fast as I'd like to." He explained to the driver.
"No problem sweetie. Take a seat and we'll be on our way."
He smiles then scans the bus for a free seat. Korin continues looking out her window while listening to the music on her playlist.
"Excuse me?"
She doesn't respond due to 'Waste It On Me' blaring in her ears.
"Excuse me, ma'am?" He taps her on the shoulder.
Korin turns toward him wide eyed, "Oh! I'm sorry. Yes?"
"Hi." He says while making a hand gesture.
"Hi." She smiles.
"Uh, may I sit here? It's the only available seat." He said.
"Oh! I'm sorry! Sure! Go right ahead!" She moved her bag onto the floor between her feet.
He nods and says, "Thank you."
The driver looks in the overhead mirror and smiles. "And we're off!"
