Athena

"I'd like to buy a plane ticket to your furthest destination today," she told the airline employee. She didn't know where she wanted to go, she just knew she wanted to get out. It wasn't right for her anymore. As soon as the employee handed over the piece of paper the mysterious woman slammed five $100 bills on the counter and briskly walked off to find her gate. Constantly, the woman is looking over her shoulder searching for something that just isn't there. She walks with her head down and not noticing her surroundings, she bumps into something causing them both to trip over and drop their belongings. Without looking at the person she ran into, she frantically grabbed the fallen items from the floor and ran to her gate. When she got to her designated area, she was finally able to sit down. She sat down with a thud and a deep breath. The sweat on her forehead curved down and disappeared in her shirt. For the first time since she got her ticket, she finally looked down at it. "Greece," She didn't think that one day she would end up going back. She wouldn't have much when she got there, all she would have are the clothes on her back and another to change into. Bouncing her leg up and down, she waits. After what felt like forever, she finally heard the permission to board the plane.

The woman tossed her bag into the overhead compartment and plopped down on her seat and let out a deep breath. She closed her eyes as people were passing by her, she heard the clicks of people putting their suitcases away and people settling themselves in their designated seats. She felt eyes burning into the side of her head, but she didn't dare to open her eyes to see who it was. After what felt like hours of continuous sound, there was a ding that indicated seat belts needed to be worn. She was so out of it, she didn't even hear the flight attendant explain the emergency procedure. After everyone put their seat belts on, the plane began to roll down the runway gaining speed. As the plane ascended into the air, the woman let out another breath. It seems as if she has let out a thousand deep breaths. Finally, the plane levels out, seat belts come off, and passengers are free to move about the cabin. The unknown woman keeps her seat belt on, she tightens it. People move freely about the cabin, going to the bathroom or talking with their friends who are in a different cabin. The woman closes her eyes again, trying to get some sleep. She left so abruptly after she quit her job, she didn't have time to relax. The whole week she had been preparing to leave by getting money out of the bank that she didn't have, stuffing all of her clothes in suitcases, and making sure she left nothing behind.

It's eerily quiet and dark in the cabin. Passengers have finally fallen asleep or have just decided to stop talking to one another. The unnamed woman still hasn't fallen asleep, her mind is going a mile a minute and doesn't want to turn off. She hasn't moved an inch, her body is stuck in cement. She doesn't want to move at all, the only time she wants to move is when she gets off of the plane and into her new life. It's so quiet that she jumps when the flight attendant taps her on the shoulder. "Excuse me, ma'am, would you like some water or juice?" She shakes her head no without making eye contact with the lady. The attendant accepts the answer and places a blanket on the empty seat next to the woman. The woman places the blanket over her legs and before she could even count sheep in her head, she feels another presence next to her. "Hi, I'm Elliot, most people call me Elle though," The person next to her said, she didn't say anything back but instead turned her body closer to the window.

"What's your name? If you don't mind me asking," the woman still doesn't say anything. The person next to her waits for a second before speaking again.

"Well, okay. I just wanted to give you this. You dropped it earlier when you ran into me. I just wanted to make sure you get it back, it seems important," Elliot goes to stand from the seat and places a small, wallet-sized, picture on the seat.

"It was nice meeting you, have a safe flight." They turn on their heels and leave the cabin to go back to their seat. The woman never once thought about breaking eye contact with the clouds. She wanted nothing more than to just lay on one of them.