Breathless

There was an odd mixture of feelings in the air tonight. She could almost taste the emotions: intricate and bittersweet. She scanned her surroundings with a swift sweep, her eyes covering as much detail as possible. There were people scattered everywhere, scurrying about, minding their own business. She wrinkled her nose as the smell of overpriced coffee and stale muffins fill up her head. What was she doing here again? Her mind kept going back to the same question. Why was she here? All she knew was that she didn't like it here very much.

She was standing in this very spot just a few months ago. Sending her best friend off, to who-knows-where. Her best friend was moving, not into another neighborhood close by, but some place further than the usual ten minutes of walking away. Another continent, in fact. She could feel the moisture well up in her eyes almost immediately as she recalled how much she has missed her since. Quickly, she blinked and forced the tears back to where they belonged.

The generic ding-dong chime sounded, advising travelers to not leave their luggage unattended. The jingle managed to snap her out of her memories and she was instantly reminded to focus only on the task at hand.

Frantically, she searched for a familiar face but found none, only quizzical looks from strangers when her eyes and theirs accidentally met for a split second. She wasted no time on them and continued looking for him. For anyone familiar at all. They had to be here, somewhere.

She checked her watch again and again. Begging for time to slow down, to accommodate her, for just this once.

She was angry, regretful, and perhaps even a little vengeful. The news was all too sudden, him speaking of leaving out of the blue. It came as a shock, a real blow. She scolded herself endlessly for not being attentive enough. How could she jot down the wrong time? How could she be so careless? How could circumstances be so merciless to her today, of all days? She needed a source to blame.

Nothing registered in her head, her mind was a blank. She never was the best under pressure. Thus, she decided to let her intuition guide her, for she had nothing else. Her sixth sense led her to the schedule boards. Putting two and two together, she began running towards the designated dock number.. she ran until her lungs felt like they were on fire.. until her legs felt like they would give in if she took another step.

Breathless, she reached the gate. Please, please, please... don't go.. not yet. She mumbled under her breath as her eyes combed through the crowds, searching for him.

But it was all too late. She was too late.

He's gone.

The ship sailed mere minutes ago. She raced all the way here, to no avail.

He didn't wait for her. Not even for another second.

How could he? How could he just leave like that? Without saying a word? Without a proper goodbye?

She let the salt water stain her face. She didn't try to hide her tears this time.


*Not an original Edenia post. This is Rachelle's work, edited to make it slightly more archaic (ship instead of plane)