First Love

It is her first flight and she is excited; she has never flown before. Others told her what to expect, but she was still unprepared for what it would actually feel like.

At takeoff, her heart jumps, lifting with the plane as it leaves the ground. It moves so much faster than she anticipated; surely this is impossible. But it isn’t. Eventually she becomes used to the rhythm of the plane, and it calms her. Like falling asleep under the comforting weight of his arm, flying isn’t as hard as she thought it would be.

Partway through the flight, the plane begins to bounce. She is scared because she cannot do anything to stop it. This time her heart beats differently. Faster. Out of fear rather than exhilaration. Like walking home alone in the dark, she has no other choice.

But the plane doesn’t crash. Eventually the air becomes smooth again, and she appreciates it more for having known the fear. She thinks, I could get used to this.

Finally she can feel the plane begin to descend. Again, there is nothing she can do to stop it. They land abruptly, and her first flight ends the way it began, with a hug at the door and a kiss on the forehead.