Writer's Recipe vol. 3 (2018)

SURVIVOR

By: Liana Nordin

On that starless night, the single aeroplane I saw flying across the sky from inside my car looked as if it was a shooting star.

"Why am I the only one who survived?" that question kept tugging at the back of my head ever since the incident 10 years ago. But there was no answer, and I didn't want to blame fate. It was an incident that I could never erase from my memory.

The sound of my phone's ringtone snapped me from my wondering. It was a call from my wife, asking me what time I would be back. "On my way," I told her curtly and drove away from the airport.

Upon entering my house, I was immediately greeted by 7 year old daughter Jennie. She brought a picture of me from 10 years ago – along with my two best friends.

"You promised to tell me about them today," the innocent girl said excitedly. "So, who are they Daddy?"

"Well, we went through a lot together," I said with a rueful smile. It was a photograph of the three of us posing joyfully at the airport before our last trip together. Our literal last trip together.

"It happened when I was 20 years old. That morning, I was going for a trip to Jeju Island in Korea with my best friends, Kim and Louis. I woke up to the sounds of the birds chirping outside my window. The sun's ray had crept its way into my bedroom, landing slightly on my face. My vision was still a little blurry – I looked at the clock on the wall but couldn't quite make out what time it was. "Oh my God!" I immediately jumped out of bed and dashed to the washroom when I realised what time it was.

After briefly preparing myself, I rushed downstairs. I was worried that they might have overslept like I did, but I was really surprised to find Louis and Kim happily having their breakfast at the living room without me. All their luggage were neatly arranged in front of the television. I was outraged. I stomped my feet so loud that they turned their heads to me.

"Good morning sleepyhead," said Louis playfully.

"You two weren't planning on leaving me behind, were you?" I said sarcastically. They knew I was upset.

"Oh well, I woke up," I said casually, trying to break the tension. I did not want to spoil the mood. Without exchanging any more words, I took a seat at the dining table and ate the simple breakfast that Kim had prepared. After the meal, we called a taxi and headed to the airport.

I really couldn't wait to be in Jeju Island. The 4 hours that we spent waiting in the departure hall went by in a flash. Finally, it was time to board the plane.

"Hey guys, let's take a picture together in front of the plane," Louis suggested. The picture he took is the picture that my daughter Jennie would persistently ask me about many years in the future.

As we entered the plane, I argued with Kim to sit next to the window. I wanted to the breath-taking scenery of the island even before we landed.

"I've told you before that I to sit there," I said commandingly while pointing at the window seat. Kim showed a dissatisfied look but I would not budge. Fortunately, Louis, the self-proclaimed wisest of us quickly defused the situation. Thanks to him, I was able to claim the window seat.

It was not long before I doze off. I did not know how I had slept, but when I woke up, a sight of horror outside the window greeted me. I quickly shook Louis who was sleeping in the chair next to me. I pointed at the thing I saw outside. Colour drained from his face.

"Oh my God!" he shouted. Everyone turned their attention to us. Outside, one of the engines on the wing of the aeroplane had caught fire. At that moment, an announcement blared through the speakers.

"We ask all passengers to remain calm. Please put on your seatbelt and oxygen mask," said the voice from the speaker, but all the passengers were in an uproar. Moments later, a loud explosion rocked the aeroplane. Everyone could only scream in horror.

The scene was chaotic. The plane was shaking even more violently. People all around us were, screaming, crying, and praying for safety. Slowly but surely, I could feel it in my gut that the plane was plummeting down. Strapped to the seat, I held on to Louis' hand, and he was holding Kim's. Before I knew it, I passed out.

I tried to speak but the words were stuck in my throat. Amid the pain and thirst, my eyes slowly began to open. I was in a white room, filled with the beeps and bops of machinery. Beside me, my Mom and Dad were crying to see their child opening his eyes again.

What they told me was surreal. I alone had miraculously survived the plane crash. I shut my eyes tight but could not hold back my tears. I could not believe that the trip that I was looking forwards to would end up becoming a miserable tragedy.

Jennie's eyes were wide open as I reached the end of my story.

"Did all that really happen, Daddy?" she asked innocently

"Of course... not!!" I burst out laughing. She laughed with me.

"I want to sleep now Daddy. Thanks for the story," she said before my wife took her to bed.

I went outside the balcony. The full moon revealed an aeroplane flying over my head. I wished it never happened.