by Steven Wolff
CHAPTER 1
THIRTY SIX HOURS EARLIER
Anica loves bookstores and is a life-long avid reader. There’s just something about the smell of a book that brings a smile to her face. She doesn't know what it is, but whenever she enters any bookstore or library, she's instantly in heaven. If she could have her way, she'd live in one surrounded by all kinds of books - soft covers, hard covers, you name it. Since she can't live in a library or bookstore, she has the next best thing at home, a favorite chair in her bedroom she calls the Tardis.
She calls it that because when she's in it with a good book, it takes her to any time or place and on so many adventures. It's no surprise her favorite chair color is Tardis blue, with a fleece police box Tardis-design blankie and a pillow case with David Tennant on one side and Matt Smith on the other, depending on which one she wants to see.
Anica considers herself a super fan of the British Sci-fi show Doctor Who and sometimes wishes she could travel through time and space, meeting all kinds of creatures and getting in all kinds of trouble that usually can be solved by using a sonic screw driver (yes she has one) or just by using her wits.
At night, she looks out her window and wishes she would see the Tardis spinning in the night sky. As with all good reading chairs, her chair also has the usual prerequisite of food crumbs, candy wrappers, and loose change you'll find between the cushions of a much-loved seat.
However, Anica is about to go on a journey she's been saving up for over the past few years. She's saved up and bought tickets to go to Europe and has her bags all packed and is ready to go. She is miles away from home and her favorite chair at Portland International Airport in of all places, Powell's bookstore! She's with her lifelong best friend Michele, browsing the many shelves of books and magazines to help find something to pass the really long flight to get there. A good eighteen hours crammed into a tiny seat, alone, is not really anyone's idea of fun.
As they browse row after row of beautiful cherry oak bookshelves, Anica notices the aroma of fresh coffee brewing from somewhere nearby, pleasantly lingering on the air. Teasing her. She tries to ignore it, but she recognizes the aroma… it's her favorite Black Forest Mocha! The smell is emanating from across the way at her favorite coffee place called The Coffee People.
Anica was devastated when The Coffee People closed up all their shops, but one stayed open, forever thriving and treating all those who travel through Portland International Airport. They are the only ones who make her favorite coffee flavor just the way she likes it. She also loves the chocolate-covered coffee beans! The mere thought of one last cup before the flight is making her mouth water. Anica takes in the aroma with one deep inhale and lets out a pleasant sigh, a big grin on her face.
'How can I resist you?' She thinks to herself. 'Darn it... I don’t want you now because you’re gonna make me get up and go pee every five minutes... But, oh you smell SO good! I hate you! I hate you! I HATE YOU!' She thinks playfully to herself. 'You’re evil! I'm just going to ignore you… La La La. See! It's working!'
She picks up a book that catches her eye and glances at the back cover. Her eyebrow lifts with intrigue and her bottom lip sticks out like a detective who's just stumbled upon a plot-twisting clue!
'Action, Escapes, Magic, Vampires, Were-Dragons, Time Travel and its got Love and heart break too… This could be interesting!' She thinks to herself.
“Hey, what do you think of this shirt?” Michelle asks, holding a brown souvenir shirt to her chest that says, Also, I can kill you with my brain!
“What brain?” Anica replies playfully.
“Shut up! I have a brain and you know it!”
Both girls laugh and push each other playfully. Anica’s attention goes back to the book in her hand. Michelle’s curiosity makes her peek over to see what book Anica is holding. “Whatcha' readin’?”
“Oh, it’s a novel I’m thinking of buying for my trip. I can’t decide between this and,” holding up a second selection, “this one called Heart Strings from Amanda Petrick, which also looks pretty interesting.”
“Well, why not get both?”
Anica smiles at that thought. “Good idea!”
“But I want to read it when you’re done, okay?”
“You still didn’t give back the other book you borrowed!” said Anica.
“That’s because it’s such a great book! I… uh… am kinda stuck on this one part.”
Anica thought for one moment and her eyes lit up in shock!
“You're not doing what I THINK you're doing… are you?”
“Me? Nooooo!” Michele blushes and frowns and her eyebrows express that she would never do that.
“Good, you better not!”
Michele has a sheepish grin on her face, like a kid busted stealing a cookie from a cookie jar.
“You ARE, aren't you?” Anica pushes Michele playfully, “I can't believe you. You're so bad!”
“Hey, I'm not the one who calls my “neck massager” Vera!”
“That's it… let’s go!” Anica playfully grabs Michele by the arm and leads her to the cash register, smiling. She knows she can't win that argument.
“Do you want to get some coffee?” asks Anica.
“Sure, if you're buying.”
“I guess… since it'll be the last time I see you in a few months.” Anica said, looking at Michelle while handing money to the cashier, who scans her books and gives her a receipt and puts her books in a plastic bag. The mood suddenly switches for Anica as she thinks about what she just said.
A few months… The thought of leaving her best friend is starting to sink in and is making Anica's eyes well up. She tries to hide it but Michele notices and instinctively responds by wrapping her arms around her, holding her tight. Anica has never been away this long from anyone and the thought is overwhelming.
“I’m going to miss you so much!” Michele said, still hugging her.
Tears start to fall hard as Anica replies back “You’re not even gone and already I’m missing you! How is that even possible?”
Michelle pulls back and looks Anica in the eyes.
“You know why silly, because the bond we have is so strong! We’re the best friends anyone could ever have and we will be forever! Nothing is ever going to change that and no little time apart is going to stop that. I'll still be here when you get back so don't you forget that!”
“I wish you could come with me. I hate flying alone.”
Michelle took both of Anica’s hands into her own and squeezes them tight.
“I’m going to miss you too silly goose. I so wish I could go but you know I can’t,” Michelle said with sincerity and a tear in her eye.
“You know with school and finals coming up, it’s just the timing is all wrong.”
“I know,” acknowledged Anica. “Damn school and bettering yourself!” Anica folds her arms and pouts her lips playfully, trying to be angry but still smiling.
“I don’t have to like it but I do understand and I'm proud of you for bettering yourself. I just want you all to myself, that's all.”
Michelle suddenly perks up like she always does when she gets a bright idea! Anica's smile gets really big at the look on Michele's face.
“Hey! Call me when you get there and we’ll talk on the phone for hours on end, just like when we lived next door to each other!”
“GOD I miss those days!” Anica smiles at how she and Michelle would talk about anything and everything.
“I remember on school nights when we used to stay up past 11 with the lights off, talking on the phone all night,” Michele replied, “Sometimes staying up ALL night into the next day and we still had to go to school!”
“Yeah, I remember because I kept getting in trouble in Mrs. Wentworth's class for falling asleep. It was your fault!”
“Oh, but we had so much fun!”
“Yeah it was.” Anica chuckled at the happy memories. They walk out of Powell's, heading over to The Coffee People where the bright red sign, black borders and
white letters beckon. It has everything a coffee lover could ever want. They browse the menu as the overhead intercom clicks on.
“Now boarding for flight 1971 non-stop to Europe, Gate C.”
Michelle looked at Anica for confirmation.
“I’m afraid that’s my call,” Anica said with a sad look on her face. “I didn't even get to have my coffee, damn it.” Anica's bottom lip comes out to pout.
They hug tightly one last time, not wanting to let go.
“Go on, don’t miss your flight or I'll never hear the end of it!” Michelle says as she hands over Anica's carry-on bag.
“Thanks for bringing me here. I love you so much! Talk to you soon?”
“Love you too. Yeah, call me when you get there so I know you're okay.”
“Even if it's late over there?”
“Doesn't matter what time, you know you can wake me up anytime.”
“Okay I will. Take care of yourself!”
“You too. I'll be waiting for your call and texts so don't forget!”
“I won't.”
Anica gets one last quick hug and then with tickets in hand, carry-on slung over her shoulder, she walks to the boarding lounge and hands her tickets to the flight attendant to be scanned.
She turns tearfully to wave one last time to Michele who waves back with a big supportive smile. She's given her ticket back so she turns and walks onto the Jetway leading to the plane, wiping at the steady trickle of tears.
'Be strong Anica, you can do this.' She thinks to herself.
As she walks on board, sounds of hissing are heard as the cabin pressure slowly increases as air is pumped into the plane through the air vents. Random conversations can be heard from passengers settling in for the long flight. Anica looks around and sees the overhead lights softly glowing, as the people in front of her are slowly starting to take their seats.
She uses the time it takes for the ones in front to get situated to do a little covert people watching. Some are texting away on their smart phones; others are reading paperback books or eBooks on their portable tablets.
People watching has always been one of her favorite pastimes. She makes her way down the isle towards the back of the plane where her seat is assigned. To her surprise, no one has sat in the other two empty seats next to hers so there’s no awkward maneuvering should she need to get up and use the restroom.
She checks her seat number with the ticket and is pleased that her seat is by the window. Since the middle or aisle seats haven’t been taken yet, Anica hopes no one else will sit in them so she’ll have room to stretch out. Of course that's wishful thinking, but one can hope. After putting her carry-on in the overhead bin, she takes a moment to take in all the sights and sounds of the plane. She hears the sounds of suitcases being opened, people talking amongst themselves, electronics beeping and seat trays being pushed up or pulled down.
Anica turns and tries to look out the window but the thin plastic window shade is pulled down. She lifts it up and looks out the window of the plane and is surprised to see how quickly the daylight is fading. The skies are darker and overcast as tiny drops of rain start to tap the outside of the window, slowly streaming down and changing the outside view to a mosaic of beautiful, bright colors.
She glances down and sees the marshaller wearing his huge earmuffs and waving his orange flashlights to the pilots. His movements are hypnotic and interesting to watch as his flash lights look like little orange light sabers. Anica looks back at the terminal windows to see if she can see Michele one last time, but can't. It's finally dawning on her that her dream of going to Europe for the first time is finally coming true. It's been several long years in the making with lots of pre-planning. While part of this makes her happy, she's also nervous and jittery inside.
She's never been away from home before, especially for so long with no family or friends. She can feel the butterflies in her stomach turning. This trip is a big deal for her, a new experience that is a little scary and exhilarating at the same time. Part of her wants to get up and leave, but it is already too late. Her bags are in the plane's cargo hold and the money is already spent. Like it or not, her journey has begun and there's no turning back. Anica fidgets and has second thoughts about leaving. She's about to get up when someone walks up and asks, “Excuse me. Is this seat taken?”
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