Dear Elle,

8. Moments in time.

Elle POV

They say the worst thing to do when you need to be somewhere is watch the clock, as time stands still. I never really believed in that until today.

My flight was moments from touching down at LAX and rather than feel like I had only been traveling for hours (including delays...yay me!), I felt like I had been travelling for days. I never understood how people could just drop everything when they got that phone call - whether it was a birth or death- and just jump on a plane with whatever they had on them. Honestly, It feels like you are hanging in limbo as soon as you take off, what unknown awaits when you touch back down? 

That was me.

Even though the planes had WiFi, I couldn't keep messaging Noah or my Dad for updates. The poor flight attendants assumed that I was on the receiving end of bad news from my constant vacant expression, bloodshot eyes and the way I kept flipping over and unlocking my phone or looking at my email.

I didn't know what to do.

I was restless but couldn't go anywhere. I couldn't concentrate long enough to watch a movie and when I tried to work, my mind ended up wandering. I did manage to brief that girls back in New York about what had happened and they assured me to just focus on Lee and they would bring all my belongings back with them when they returned.

I don't know whether it was a blessing or not that the only seat that Noah managed to get me on was in business class and I was grateful that I had some space to myself. I'm all for travelling economy, but in this situation I would have just annoyed whoever I was sandwiched between.

I breathed a sigh of relief as I felt the tires hit the runway, throwing things in my bag as the plane taxied. I slid my heels back on and eyed the flight attendants as I turned my phone off 'flight mode' waiting for it to reconnect. It was about 9:30 at night in LA and my day was far from over as I shot a text to Noah.

E. Landed at LAX. Waiting to get off the plane. Be there soon. X

I drummed my fingers against the back of my phone as I watched the plane head towards the docking station. I was relieved that I didn't have to wait for any luggage, I could just jump in a cab as soon as I was out.

I felt my phone vibrate in my hand and looked down as the plane came to a complete stop.

N. Ok. Ur Dad went home. Still here @ hospital with Mum and Dad. No change. UCLA Medical. Level 4. Room 3. I love you x

E. See you soon. Love you too. X

N. Love you so much more. x

After what felt like forever, the doors to the aircraft finally opened and I shot out of my seat moving through people as they slowly collected their belongings and had a chat. The airport was crowded for a Friday night with people flying in and out but I managed to get a cab pretty easy. I gave the driver my destination and watched him pull away from the curb and onto the freeway as we headed to the city.

That's when it hit me.

Lee and Rachel had been in a car accident. They were in hospital.

I shuddered. I didn't know what I was walking into. I had been running on adrenaline and I could feel my body start to shake. I didn't know who to see, talk to or hug first. I needed to take care of Noah, calm June and I somehow needed to bring my best friend back from all of this.

I couldn't break....not yet. There would be time for that later. They all needed me now and I couldn't break down. I need to be strong for the Flynns just as they were strong for us. Lee was a fighter, no doubt, but this whatever the road to recovery was was going to hurt and impact us all.