The Art of Love

Birds in Flight

The call for her section shook her out of her daze. She stood up and grabbed her package and adjusted her crossbody bag more snugly across her chest. The hours had ticked by slowly since leaving her apartment and to finally board the plane that would take her back home felt oddly surreal. She both dreaded it and looked forward to. The attendant at the gate looked at her ticket, scanned it and handed it back. She walked down the narrow passageway and up the ramp. This was a much larger plane than she had flown in when she first arrived in LA but this flight was the only one flying nonstop and the price for the ticket was crazy high. Her sisters fiancé paid for it as a gift which had made her feel special and uncomfortable. She knew it was nothing for him but the gesture was appreciated all the same. Finding her seat and settling in she couldn't help but think back to the day she walked away from her life to set out on a journey of self discovery and independence. It was both terrifying and thrilling but she left behind a part of her heart and a rift between her and her parents. She would have to deal with that once she was home. For now she would sit back and try to enjoy the flight. The take off however was another matter. Perhaps a drink would take the edge off. Maybe two.

Boarding the commercial airline had not been his first choice but.......

"Ms. You can put your package up above you in the overhead compartment. Or I can put it up front." The young woman nodded her head back and forth "no thank you. I cant allow it to get bent or damaged. It's for my sister and her fiancé. It's their wedding gift. It's priceless and one of a kind". The flight attendant smiled but was not budging. "I'm sorry Ms. its much to large to hold in your lap and it will be in the way of the other passengers seated in your row". She held her arm out to take the folder from her but she refused to hand it over. She had to think of something quick and decided that she would take her chance. "If first class is not full, may I move there? It's a long flight and I would be out of the way and so would my package". The attendant cocked an eyebrow at her and gave her a small smirk. No doubt she thought she was stepping over the line. A coach passenger moving to first class. She wasn't even flying business class to be given the chance of that. Just before the attendant could reply the first officer spoke just behind the attendant saying "Debra, leave this to me." The attendant smiled a toothy smile towards the first officer and then glanced over her shoulder to her with the distinct air of superiority. "Now, will you kindly tell me what the fuss is all about young lady. Shall I have you tossed from the plane for bratty behavior". She opened her mouth and closed it with a snap as her eyes lit up with joy "Osman! Are you first officer on this flight? I can't believe it. I haven't been back to Turkey in more than a year and your are the first person I see. She stood and hugged him as he embraced her lifting her off her feet". After kisses on both cheeks they held hands and stared at one another before he cleared his throat and said "Lets see what we can do about your disorder Ms. I would hate to think you would have a panic attack in such an enclosed area as the economy section". The passengers that had taken notice of their conversation lifted their heads momentarily before looking back down to what they were about. Osman walked her into first class and seated her where he knew there was an empty seat. "Now Ms. if there is anything you need please just ring for the attendant who I believe is Thomas in this section. A blanket and pillow are just here behind you and cocktails will be served just after takeoff". She looked up into his beautiful eyes and thanked him with a smile. "Ablacim, I will see you at the wedding. I have another flight to the Maldives before I'm on vacation. Then we can kick up our heels and catch up. Evet?" She nodded and smiled as he walked away with a smile of his own. He had not been surprised to see her as he saw her name on the passenger manifest. It had been only six months since he last saw her between flights and she looked better then ever.

Her smile of happiness and joy lit up her already beautiful face and transformed it into that of a siren. She was especially that much more beautiful because she seemed to not notice how men reacted to her. He watched with interest at the exchange between the first officer and the lovely little Turkish flower that had just been seated next to him. He was however at the moment in another row speaking with a colleague who had been on the same flight. He had stopped to look her up and down the moment she walked into the section. She had caught his attention first by her large chocolate brown eyes that took everything in around her. The next think he noticed was the scent of wildflowers vanilla and freesia that seemed to waft in the air after her. Finally he took her all in. She was wearing a maxi dress that flowed around her in bright yellow with a crisp white short sleeved shirt tied below her bust in a soft knot. He could see the tanned skin of her throat, forearms and face and it seemed to him she had been sun kissed. "Can, did you hear what I said? Will you be able to get away from your family after or shall we just meet up back in New York?" He nodded and shook the mans hand and said "New York, I'm not sure how long I plan on staying. Looks like we're about ready to taxi. I better get to my seat". He walked over to his aisle and in a smooth motion settled into his seat while glancing across at the woman who was placing an oversized tubular canister between their seats carefully. "May I put that up for you. I promise it will be safer there than between us". She looked up at him and his mouth dried up as her mouth was slightly open showing beautiful white teeth protected by beautiful pink lush lips that seemed so plump and ripe. Kissable. "Hayir....I mean no thank you. I won't have it out of my sight. It's a one of a kind. For my sister". He had been right she was Turkish, just like him. Her English was grammatically correct. Heavily accented but lovely coming from her". He realized he was staring at her and cleared his throat and asked, are you traveling direct to Turkey or vacationing in Europe?" He watched as a slow rosy hue rose from her exposed chest and throat up and over her face. As impossible as it sounded she was even more beautiful than she had first appeared. "No. My destination is Istanbul. All my family are there" He noticed for the first time that she wasn't wearing a wedding ring and that she had been staring at him intently. Staring at his lips and then back up to his eyes." She wasn't flirting in the least. She was refreshingly transparent. He could see that she felt an attraction but he also could see that she had no idea what to do with it. He nearly chuckled at the thought that she was as innocent as she appeared to be. In a world such as the one he lived and worked in she was a breath of fresh air and as unlikely as a rose in winter. "Well then maybe we will run into one another again. I too am traveling to Istanbul and my family is from there as well. "It's nice to meet you...er....Ms. ?" She took a couple of moments to reply as she softly shook her head causing her long wavy espresso colored hair to move all about her. "Sanem, I'm Sanem. Sanem Aydin". She smiled and he slowly returned her smile with one of his own. "Can, I am Can D..."
.... "Ladies and Gentlemen please return your seats to the upright position and store any carryon items below your seat. Our flight is ready for departure and we will be on our way to Istanbul Turkey." He held her hand in his, as they shook; noting that it was small and warm and incredibly soft with paint marks of every color covering her nails and the tips of her fingers. She could be nothing less than an artist.