Shattered Skies and the storm that followes

Layla strained to look at the plane carrying her husband away. At the moment she couldn't help but think how small, how fragile the plane was against the dark, stormy skies. The clouds churned ominously. It wasn't often they were separated, maybe two or three times since the day they got engaged over 5 years ago. She couldn't help but worry. The distance between them was unbearable, it left an empty, gnawing feeling in her chest.

“Overbooked my butt”, she scoffed to herself, under her breath. Her husband had a business meeting in San Francisco. She, her sister Mary, and her best friend Sophie, were supposed to be on the same flight, first class too. Now she was stuck waiting three hours in the world's tiniest, most cramped airport, and then riding economy. She wanted to complain, but the airport wasn't the problem, neither were the seats. He usually held her hand and reassured her with a smile. She was terrified of flying. Biting her nails, she watched the shiny metal bird fly into a thick storm cloud. She waited for it to come out, but it didn't. One second passed, then two. Out of nowhere, her worst nightmares came true. There was a bang. It was low and deep, and it chilled her blood. Suddenly there was a purple crack in the sky, like a god drug its nails from the top of the horizon down, ripping the heavens open. Then all too quickly, The bird was falling, wings broken off and engines steaming. It was disastrous, yet peaceful, like a feather floating through the air. Her hand went against the window like she could catch him, like if it weren't for this small pane of glass she could save the love of her life. The blood had drained from her face and she was in a shock induced haze. She couldn’t comprehend what was happening. Her knees buckled and she fell to the ground. Tears welled in her eyes, but didn't dare to roll down her cheeks. Her breathing became jagged and unstable. Unblinking, she grabbed her chest as her heart rate increased. She bent over, nails digging into her skin. It was heavy and cold, as if death had a bitter hand around her back. Her thoughts sped, “It wasn't his plane. He's fine. I'm just having a nightmare”, they failed to convince her. She lifted her head to see if she had imagined it, but it was too real. It hurt, oh how it hurt. She could feel a wave of nausea flood over her. Her sister saw and ran over to her. Her first thought was that her sister, fragile as always, was having separation anxiety. Looking out the window, the blood drained from her sister’s face and suddenly she understood what was going on. Her heart ached for her sister. He was her everything and she couldn’t begin to understand how she must be feeling. Putting her own worries aside she tried to comfort her sister.

“Oh Lay, I’m so sorry. I’m so so sorry” she whispered as she wrapped her arms around her small and shaking frame.

Layla mumbled, “I-I was going to surprise him” she was trembling

“What do you mean?”

Layla pauses, “I’m pregnant again”, her voice was flat and her eyes were dull.

“How could fate be so cruel? She had a still born child just a year earlier and they’d been trying ever since. Now this”, Mary though sorrowfully.

“Mary”, Layla paused, her voice shaking. She pleaded, “Mary, I just want to go home. Please take me home Mary”. Her eye browns knit.

“Okay then that's what we'll do” Mary replied in a confident, yet sympathetic tone.

Just as Mary was helping her up, Sophie came out of the bathroom.

“What's the commotion?” she questioned nervously, drying her hands on her pale jeans. All Layla could do was cry and all Mary could manage was a single gesture. She pointed at the trail of smoke and the ball of fire on the ground. She hesitated.

“Was that…” She said weakly. Mary just nodded. She bit her lip. “Are you sure he…”, Mary looked at the floor as she nodded again, failing to make eye contact.

Mary stayed with Layla and Sophie tried to get them a car, but the roads were closed and a huge storm was rolling in. After about an hour they finally got her up after a tornado warning sounded. They all moved to a small storm shelter down stairs. The only thing they could hear was the wind whistling above them.

Sophie broke the silence, “I need to confess something, if we all die here, if the ceiling caves in or… or I don’t know… Lay… I-I” She let out a sharp breath. “I slept with your husband. We were.. We were in love. A-and… I’m pregnant!” She seemed to shout the last word and the echoes bounced around the walls for a minute. Her hands were clenched into fists as she raced for a reaction.

“What do you mean?” Mary said aggressively. Mary raises her hands and slapped Sophie across the face leaving a five fingered mark on her cheek. A small cut dripped blood from the place her ring had made contact. Layla was so shocked she couldn’t hear anything she just saw the two begin to fight. They exchanged blows and pulled hair, back and forth. Sophie hit the ground with a thud. Then she heard glass shattering in the opposite direction. All of the sudden the walls began to cave in upon them, crashing down. Layla closed her eyes and prepared for pain. Her arms instinctively covered her stomach, protecting her new born baby.

When she opens them she’s in her room, not her hotel room, not a hospital room, but her room. Purple bedding with small flowers intricately weaved throughout and beige walls with music posters and drawings scattered. Laundry and other miscellaneous items strewn across the floor. Her digital alarm clock on the nightstand reads 3:46 AM. She lifts her phone, and an airline message pops up, “24 hour notice. Please check in for your upcoming flight. Safe travels”.

She closes the message and rubs her stomach. Relieved, she rolls over to see her loving husband. She grabs his warm hand and mumbles, “That was an unsettling dream”. She yawns, “ I hope it doesn't storm tom..”..