April 6, 2025
Blink
At the airport all I did was cry and periodically wipe the snot from my nose before it grazed my upper lip. Standing in line for my flight ticket, I look around, seeing mothers with their children and pets sitting on the floow, all waiting for a way out. From the collection of empty plastic water bottles and crinkled plastics bags of once-was food, they've been here for hours.
“They’ll probably fly you to Cyprus or Greece and then you’ll be able to catch a flight to Belgrade,” Nate tells me while stroking my damp cheek. “It’ll be okay, we’ll see each other in a couple weeks.”
We get to the ticket counter and the middle-aged lady takes my passport, smiling warmly. “So your flight is just about to go.”
“Where am I going?”
“You’re going to Düsseldorf, Germany.”
“What? Are you joking?” looking at Nate anxiously.
“Is there another flight she can take?”
“No, I’m sorry, this is the last flight out today.”
She prints out the ticket and hands it over to me with my passport. “Safe flight.”
I can feel the heat rising in my chest. “I don’t have a jacket. I have nothing with me.” Raising my voice in a panic, “everything is in those fucking boxes!”
“Listen, it’s going to be okay.” He says, stroking my cheek. “It’s a quick flight and then you’ll be with your family.”
I don't hear anything he says. I feel the cold sweat on my hairline, my heart pounding. I think I'm having a panic attack. “Please come with me,” eyes watering. “Please come with me. I can't do this, I can't do this.”
“Breathe," he rubs my back as I bend over, trying to collect myself. "You know I can't come. They’re going to call me to the army soon. I can’t leave.”
“Flight 6252 to Dusseldorf, please follow me” a bald man in a black windbreaker yells out. People eagerly form a line behind him as he waves his hand in the air. “Let’s go people, let’s go!”
It took a moment for me to realize that we're separating. I try grabbing onto him, but people are shoving themselves into the line, Nate grows further away from me.
“I love you,” I scream out. “I’m sorry, I'm sorry.”
*story based on the October 7th, 2024 Massacre
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