Not Quite a Stranger

Sasha rushed through the airport, swerving and weaving through the crowds of people waiting for their flights. She kept looking at the gate numbers over hoards of people, standing on tip toes. Ugh, this would probably be easier if I wasn't so friggen’ short! She huffed to herself. This last-minute decision to fly home for her aunt's funeral was becoming much more stressful than need be. She was already feeling overwhelmed about the next several hours, let alone the next few days home. The thought of missing her flight was almost as nerve-wracking as thinking about the flight itself.

Although it had been years since she visited her hometown, she had always kept in contact with her dear Aunt Em. She was one family member that she felt closest to. Aunt Em’s passing was sudden and Sasha hadn’t been planning a trip across the country for at least another few years. However, when Sasha received that terrible middle-of-the-night call from her mother, she immediately booked the next flight home. Unfortunately, this meant she had to take the quickest and last seat available; an economy seat that only included a carry-on bag, on a flight that left in 4-ish hours. Sasha only had about 2 hours of sleep before booking. Hazel eyes bloodshot and puffy, she pulled out her backpack . Weary and shaken from the loss she packed up what she could fit, taking only the essentials (she wasn’t even sure if she packed enough underwear for the week).

As Sasha rushed to her gate she tried to make a mental list of what she may have forgotten, but realized it was beyond too late now. If she didn’t have time to shower before leaving, she certainly didn’t have time to worry about what she forgot. She did her breathing exercises, tied back her uncombed, auburn hair, and wiped away the tears that were starting to roll down her cheeks. Making it just in time to hear her name being called over the intercom, she scanned her ticket at the gate and walked down the corridor that connected the airport to the airplane.

A nervous flyer, Sasha wasn’t looking forward to the flight. Hoping to have a seat next to someone who would leave her be to enjoy her podcast in peace and possibly nap. She walked towards the back of the plane looking for her row, starting to wonder if she was going to be sitting in cargo as her seat seemed a mile from the door. Finally, she found her place. Exhausted, she squeezed past her seatmates. Luckily, she managed a window seat, giving her a little bit of extra room and something to lay her head upon if she managed to doze. She sat down, pulled out her earbuds, and buckled up.

Lost in a dream of waves rolling up the cliffs. Innocently picking up urchins and looking for little crabs in tidal pools with her cousins as a child, Sasha bolted awake to a sharp pain on her forehead. Over the PA she heard “Attention passengers we are experiencing some slight turbulence. Please stay seated and buckled up until the seatbelt light is turned off”.

Sasha touched her head, feeling a bump. Slight turbulence, my ass. She thought to herself. I haven't been home in over a decade and their first impression will be I've turned into some kind of scrapper. Stuffing her sweater between her head and the wall, she hoped her makeshift pillow would ease the throbbing. Closing her eyes drained of energy, she fell back to sleep straight away.

“Ma’am, excuse me…” a stranger tapped on Sasha’s arm.

Exasperated, “What do you need?” Sasha snapped, then turned to look at him, “Sorry, I haven’t had much sleep in the last day. What can I help you with?”

“The snack cart is coming our way and I just thought I’d let you know.” the young man replied. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“Oh, thanks. I’m good. I’ve got a long few days ahead, just tryin’ to grab a spell before I get back home.” Sasha put her earbuds back in and curled back towards the window.

“Ok, no problem. Sorry.” the young man continued, “Where are you headed? You have a bit of an accent.”

Seemingly oblivious to Sasha’s obvious body language of wanting to be left alone. She closed her eyes and didn’t respond. Just don’t engage and he’ll get the hint.

The guy turned towards her a little more and continued, “I’m heading to the Corner Brook area. I’ve never been there, but I hear it’s a beautiful little city. I’m hoping I’ll have time to get up to the northern part of Newfoundland. I've never seen an iceberg and that L'anse aux Meadows place looks really cool. I loved that show about Vikings!”

Sasha realized he wasn’t getting the hint. Might as well make the best of it, she thought while taking out her earbuds. Turning towards him, “I’m Sasha”. Noticing his freckles reminded her of her little brother. Her shoulders dropped, perhaps this small sense of familiarity gave her some calm from the turbulence they'd just encountered. Could be a good way to pass the time havin' a chat, I ‘spose. He seems friendly enough, could be worse. “I'm originally from Newfoundland, my accent isn't as thick as it was 20 years ago. You'd have never understood me then!” She laughed. “What’s your name?”

Extending his hand, “I’m Liam, nice to meet you. I’m sorry for bothering you, I’m just nervous about this trip. When I’m nervous I can’t shut up.” Liam chuckled.

“No worries, me love” Sasha shook his hand. “I’m a nervous flyer myself, and this trip wasn’t planned so I'm feeling a bit off. I haven’t been home in almost 15 years, but if it’s anything like I remember, it is a beautiful area. If you do get up the Northern Peninsula to L’anse aux Meadows you won’t regret it. It was always a favorite trip of mine as a child. Just bring a warm jacket, the wind up there smacks ya like a paddle.” she continued, “As long as you don’t mind a long drive on roads with pot-holes the size of a moose” she chuckled. “I’m heading to a small community near Corner Brook, myself.” She sniffled, her eyes started to fill, the thought of saying farewell to a loved one flashed through her mind. “What made you decide to visit Newfoundland? If you don’t mind my bein’ nosey, it’s not on everyone’s tourist list.”

“It’s kind of a funny story”, Liam started, twiddling his thumbs, “I’m adopted and it was a secret to me, I only found out when my grandmother’s Alzheimers got bad. I was visiting her one afternoon and she started telling me how beautiful I was as a baby. How everyone was so excited to meet me at the airport. I figured she was just confused, because who meets a baby at the airport?!” He said with an anxious laugh. “When I went to see her a couple weeks later, she mentioned it again. So I asked her what she meant. She added that the flight for my parents to get me was quite long and she stayed with them for a couple of weeks to help. After that visit I went over to my parents house and told them about Grandma's story. They first tried to play it off, but I didn’t let up. Long story short, my parents admitted that I had been adopted from a distant family member in Newfoundland. My birth mother was just a teen and being in a small area, she didn’t feel like she could offer me the life I deserved.”

Sasha had leaned in closer. She loved a good tale and this one was quite intriguing, although not the first time she’d heard a similar story. Now curious and wanting more information, she stared straight into his hazel eyes. “That’s so wild! How come it took so long for it to come out? And, why are you heading to Newfoundland now?”

Liam shrugged, “I guess my birth mother was a bit embarrassed, maybe. I was told that she went to St. John’s when she found out about the pregnancy and stayed there until I was born. My parents had been trying to have a baby for several years with no luck. When they heard from a relative about Nina, my birth mother, they reached out to her. My parents had lived in Alberta for decades, didn’t know the family from Newfoundland well, and figured it’d be easier to just not tell me. After finding out all this I decided to look into my family tree. Turns out I’m my adopted mother's distant cousin. My grandparents moved out west for work 60 something years ago and never returned to Newfoundland. Since it wasn’t home to my mother and my father is from Alberta, we never came out this way.” Liam shifted in his seat, fiddling with his seatbelt, “I’m going there now for a funeral.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry.” Sasha grabbed his hand, “If it makes you feel any better, I’m heading home for a funeral, too.”

“Thanks, sorry to you too.” he half smiled. “It’s not the way I figured I’d meet this side of my family, but at least I’ll be able to meet everyone at once. I’ve been in contact with some relatives and my bio mom. They’ve been so great at helping me put the pieces together. When my newfound cousin mentioned his Aunt’s passing, he suggested now’s as good a time as ever to come meet them.”

“Where did you say you were headed?” Sasha’s mind was spinning.

“You might know the place if you’re from Corner Brook area, I’ll be heading to Lark Harbour”

“Um, I’m gonna go out on a small limb here, but, is this Aunt Em?”

Liam jolted in his seat. “How did you know?”

“I said small limb for a reason. There are like, 500 people in Lark Harbor. That’s where I’m going. Aunt Em is my mother’s sister.” Sasha laughed. “It might be easier to meet ‘em all with a friend beside ya. The family can be a bit much. Want to share a ride home when we land?” she grinned.

Over the PA system “Attention passengers, we will be starting our descent shortly. Please put your tray tables away and stay seated with your seatbelts on.”