Is It Worth A Chance?

It's past the midnight and I'm still turning and tossing on my bed, struggling for sleep to engulf me in its arms.

The luggage I packed a few hours ago lied on the floor with its contents kept safely with a lock.

I got up from the bed and went towards the bag, I rechecked the contents for the nth time and closed it.

My eyes moved toward the window where the moon shone brightly, lighting up the whole sky.

The moon, though it acquires light from the Sun, provides peace to the night and hope to the people that there will always be light after darkness.

With the moon shining brightly, my eyes spotted a book under the bed. I strolled towards it and my breath hitched to the throat at the book I'm holding.

It was a book I got as a present on Valentine's Day from Tom. It's a handmade book covered with colourful papers, which contained our pictures together on our various dates, and the bills of those restaurants where we went after bunking our classes.

We were that lovey-dovey couples in high school and those were the times where one doesn't know the cruelties of life. 

Thinking about those times is like a knife being seeped into the heart again and again till there is nothing to bleed.

On those times, I thought that I had everything a girl could ask for-a loving boyfriend, cool friends to hang out with, teachers' pet and a supporting family.

But now, everything changed. I have no time as my life goes on a roller coaster. Being a senior corporative executive is a very stressful and tiring job, and getting leave happens once in a blue moon.

It's like if you don't grab a chance, you will regret losing it because you won't get it the next time.

So I booked a flight to Snowmass where I get time to relax and being away from a busy life in Boston.

I closed the book as I can't bear the pain it is inflicting on me and kept it where it was before and went to my bed.

Soon, sleep consumed me and I embraced the darkness gladly.

Next Morning

I opened my eyes to turn off the alarm and I took in my surroundings.

The light danced through the gap in the drapes, illuminating the far wall that was covered in the prints and magazine cut-outs I had put up when I first arrived. My apartment, warmed by the morning sun, welcomed me into the new day. As my toes met the worn, oak floors, I stretched out my arms, feeling every muscle in my body awaken, relishing in the horribly-great moment of the stretch. I rinsed out my favourite mug, the inside still decorated with the ten rings of yesterday’s coffee. When I pressed the button, the machine whirred, it too stretching out its metaphorical coffee-brewing muscles. The rich and bitter potion poured from its spout and down into my mug, speckling the sides of the cup as it filled. I reached for the cream in the refrigerator and watched as the hot, black coffee swirled with the cool cream. The sugar, pinched from the precious silver bowl, glimmering sweetly as I sprinkled. My spoon gently knocked the inside of the mug, then a couple of taps on the edge, until I set it down on the counter, where the coffee still on the spoon dribbled onto the clean granite. I sipped on the magic coffee as I listened to the early morning commuters of the city down below and relished in the beauty of life.

I pulled out my grey coloured tracksuit from the closet and took my mobile and earphones before going out for my morning walk.

I drank water after walking for an hour and noticed the time was 8 am. I need to hurry to reach the airport on time, I rushed to my flat and took my bag and closed the door with a last glance at my apartment.

Maybe, just maybe this trip is going to end well.

"United Airlines flight 47B to Snowmass is now ready for boarding, with all passengers for this flight proceed to gate 42"

I heard the airport announcement, I took my bag and moved towards the gate 42.

Soon, I found my seat and settled there. It's going to be a long fight of 4 hours.

A man who was in the late twenties, wearing a black leather jacket stood beside my seat, but I couldn't see his face as his back was facing me.

He kept the luggage and took his seat, which was right beside mine. He immersed himself in reading a business magazine, but he seems familiar to me. I have seen those messy brown hair and that ring on his left ring finger somewhere, but I couldn't exactly pinpoint it.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome onboard Flight 47B with service from Boston to Snowmass. We are currently third in line for take-off and are expected to be in the air in approximately five minutes. We ask that you please fasten your seatbelts at this time and secure all baggage underneath your seat or in the overhead compartments. We also ask that your seats and table trays are in the upright position for take-off. Please turn off all personal electronic devices, including laptops and cell phones. Smoking is prohibited for the duration of the flight. Thank you for choosing United Airlines. Enjoy your flight."

The flight attendant announced and he removed his face from that magazine, that's when I recognised him.

Tom! The boy with whom I never had the chance to break up, who left me like I'm a ticket thrown away after watching the movie.

He was the one who made me smile in those days, who gave a shoulder to cry on, who was there to lift me whenever I fall.

The one who made me realise that I'm beautiful, the one who made me feel loved in this cruel world.

But he was also the one who made me cry.

The one who made me fall deep but never helped me to come out from that dark hole.

The one who made me feel ugly and unloved.

The one who made me realise that there is no love in this world and it will always be a cruel one.

"Sir, do you need anything"? The air hostess politely asked him, and he replied with the firm 'no'.

"What about you mam?" She asked the same, I denied and returned the polite smile even though my heart was beating erratically.

His head snapped at me and his eyebrows creased, "Mia? Is it you?" his voice sounded like that of a mother who found her child after many years of searching.

I gulped a lump in my throat and nodded with a "yeah", and I looked away from his eyes, "it's been too long that..." I turned my face towards the window so that he couldn't see my tears.

It hurts a lot, I feel like he is inserting dagger at my heart over and over again, whenever I see his face.

An hour passed and I sit still, not daring to move my face from the window, and I could feel his eyes on me like he is drinking me in.

"I never planned to leave you Mia, but before I could come to get you there, you already left" I heard his voice behind me and I turned to him, first time looking at his face after many years.

He has grown more handsome than I last saw him, there were eyebags beneath his eyes.

"Wh..what?" Now I'm more confused than I already was. 

I continued, "I was there waiting for you but you never showed up, embarrassing me in front of the whole school." I accused him of what he had done to me.

By now, tears started falling from my eyes and I hastily wiped them before anyone could notice. It's funny how memories can do to you. How they can grip you by the throat, choke you and strangle you.

"I knew how you were excited about our first prom, even I was excited like you but fate had other plans, Mia." He sounded regretful as his eyes were distant, like remembering something from somewhere.

He continued, "that evening I went to a jewellery shop to buy you a ring for surprising you, I had it all ready before the prom. But before getting inside my car, I received a call from Dad that mom had a cardiac arrest and I have to immediately come. It was like my all senses were blocked and with an adrenaline rush, I reached the airport and booked the first flight to home. I tried to inform you Mia, but my phone died."

I couldn't help but ask, "how is your mom?" 

He smiled, "She's fine now, Mia" and continued, "the doctor said that she should not strain herself and my mom requested me to stay with her. Meanwhile, I tried your phone but it was not reachable. After three months, I met Kyle and then I realized I lost you."

The pieces of the puzzle fit in and I was so happy that he didn't leave me, and he loved me so much.

But now I feel like I'm too late, "how is your family Tom?" but that question breaks me inside.

He looked at me and smiled, "if you are talking about my parents, then they are perfect and are settled in NY, and if you are talking about my family..." he stopped and my breath hitched, "I didn't have one." And I feel like I won the world.

He continued, "I never thought about it since you've left, I've been searching for you all the time Mia but I never thought that we would meet here."

He asked, "what about yours?" 

I smiled sadly, "None because I was too damaged to start one."

His face showed how guilty he is and I don't know what to do, he asked, "will you give me a chance, Mia?" His eyes pleaded to say yes.

I looked away from his eyes to the window, I don't know what to reply to him. It feels like a dream from which I'm scared to wake up.

People tend to make mistakes, but will all second chances lead to happy endings?

But at the same time, people need a second chance to clean up their mistakes. Even life gives us a second chance every time we spend a second of it. 

Then why not should I give him? Maybe it could set things right.

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Aspen Airport. Local time is 2 pm and the temperature is 27'C. For your safety and comfort, please remain seated with your seat belt fastened until the Captain turns off the Fasten Seat Belt sign. This will indicate that we have parked at the gate and that it is safe for you to move about. 

Please check around your seat for any personal belongings you may have brought on board with you and please use caution when opening the overhead bins, as heavy articles may have shifted around during the flight.

On behalf of United Airlines and the entire crew, I’d like to thank you for joining us on this trip and we are looking forward to seeing you onboard again soon. Have a nice stay!”

I heard the flight attendant voice and I turned to him who looked deeply at my eyes. I nodded with tears and his smile grew wide, he hugged me and whispered in my ears enthusiastically, "Thank you so much, Mia! I'll make sure that you'll never regret it." 

We descend the flight stairs with hand in hand, smiling while holding our bags on another and welcomed by the cool air of Snowmass. 

I think... maybe it's worth the chance!