The aeroplane engines hummed in the cabin, a steady white noise that muffled the rustling of snack bags and the occasional cough from a passenger. James adjusted his seatbelt glancing out the window, watching as the city lights below slowly faded into a dark, endless expanse, he sighed quietly and leaned back, preparing for another dull flight.
James had never liked flying, with the stale air, the cramped seats, and the inevitable boredom making him restless, but this time, it wasn’t just the flight that had him uneasy. He was headed home to a family he hadn’t seen in years. The thought alone sent a swirl of emotions through him, ones he wasn’t sure he wanted to confront.
He shifted in his seat, adjusting the overhead air vent to relieve himself from the warmth of the crowded cabin. He always found it ironic how aeroplanes could feel isolating despite being packed with people.
“Long trip ahead?”
James turned toward the voice. The woman beside him had auburn hair tucked into a loose bun and a warm, inquisitive smile. Her presence was like a ray of sunshine in the dimly lit cabin, instantly putting James at ease; he guessed she was in her mid-thirties, dressed in a casual yet put-together outfit that suggested she travelled often.
“Yeah,” he replied. “Heading home. You?”
"Business trip,” she said, adjusting her reading glasses. “Though I wouldn’t mind a little adventure instead. I’m Olivia, by the way.”
"James.” He politely nodded, hesitating momentarily before adding, “Adventure, huh? You don’t strike me as someone who’d be tied down by work.”
She laughed softly. “Appearances can be deceiving. What about you? Business or pleasure?”
James shrugged. “Neither, really. Just visiting family. Haven’t seen them in a while.”
Olivia tilted her head, studying him for a second. “Sounds like there’s a story there.”
He hesitated. Usually, he avoided long conversations with strangers, especially on flights. But something about Olivia’s easygoing demeanour made it difficult to deflect.
“Just… life gets busy, you know? And before you realise it, years pass.”
She nodded knowingly. “That’s the way of things, isn’t it? We always think there’s more time.” She paused. “I almost didn’t go to my sister’s wedding last year. Work was overwhelming, and deadlines piling up, but then, I thought about how much I’d regret missing it. Best decision I ever made.”
James considered that for a moment. “Sounds like you’re good at making those kinds of decisions.”
She smiled wryly. “You’d think so. But I still struggle like everyone else. Sometimes you need a push.”
Their conversation flowed easily after that—books they’d read, places they’d travelled, childhood stories. Olivia spoke of a hiking trip she had taken alone in the Swiss Alps, where she’d gotten lost but found the most breathtaking view she had ever seen. James told her about when he and his brother had camped in their backyard as kids, determined to stay up all night but falling asleep before midnight.
“Sounds like you two were close,” Olivia remarked.
“We were,” James admitted. “But, you know, life happens.”
"And now?”
He sighed. “Now, I don’t know, we haven’t talked much. Not because of anything major—just… time.”
Olivia studied him for a moment. “You could change that.”
James looked down at his hands. “Yeah, I could. But I think part of me is scared of what’s changed.”
She nodded. “That’s understandable, people grow; but the thing about family is that no matter how much time passes, the core of it is still there. My sister and I barely spoke for five years after college. It wasn’t a fight or anything, just distance, and you know what? The first time we sat down again, it was like we had never stopped talking.”
James let that settle in. “I guess I just don’t know how to start.”
"You just do,” she said simply. “It all starts with a call.”
The plane continued its journey, and their conversation meandered to lighter topics. Olivia talked about her dream of taking a year off and travelling the world one day. James shared how he had planned to move to the Pacific Northwest but never followed through. The more they spoke, the more James realised how much he had missed honest conversations, the kind that wasn’t just polite small talk but ones that actually made you think.
“So, do you always talk to strangers on flights?” James asked, smirking.
“Only the ones who look like they need a distraction,” Olivia teased. “Or the ones who seem to have something important weighing on their mind.”
He chuckled. “Well, I guess I should be flattered, then.”
She smiled. “You should.”
As the plane began its descent, James felt an odd reluctance for the conversation to end. He glanced at Olivia and found her looking at him with the same unspoken sentiment.
“Hey,” he said, clearing his throat. “If you ever want that adventure, maybe you should take it.”
She smirked. “And maybe you should visit your family more often.”
He chuckled softly, shaking his head. “You make it sound so easy.”
"It can be.” She tapped the armrest between them. “Sometimes all it takes is one call.”
The plane touched down with a jolt, and passengers began gathering their belongings. James reached up for his carry-on, stealing one last glance at Olivia. He wondered if they would ever cross paths again.
As they stepped into the terminal, Olivia turned to him. “It was nice meeting you, James. Have a safe trip home.”
"You too, Olivia.”
With a final smile, she disappeared into the crowd. James stood momentarily, staring after her, before pulling out his phone.
For the first time in years, he dialled his brother’s number.
It rang twice before a familiar voice picked up. “James?”
James swallowed, his heart beating a little faster than expected. “Hey, Matt. It’s been a while.”
There was a pause on the other end, then a chuckle. “Yeah, it has. It’s good to hear from you.”
James exhaled, a small smile forming on his lips. “Yeah. You too.”
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