Someday BEGINs Today - Part 2

Read part 1, written by Komal via the link below.

The first several hours felt thrilling.

"Is this flight really 22 hours and 20 minutes long? That's almost a full day..."

Maya asked the question aloud to herself, but she knew what the plane ticket had said. Her fellow passenger answered her question with a overly caffeinated chipper,

"Yep, sure is!"

The passenger's eyes became glued back to a small TV screen that was showing a Bollywood melodrama.

As the hours wore on, Maya spent lots of time thinking about all the questions that swirled in her mind like fruit chunks in a blender.

"A smoothie sounds nice... I wonder if they serve fruit smoothies on this plane..."

When the flight attendant walked down the aisle, Maya seized the moment and asked the question.

"No, hun... Just sodas, coffee, water, and juice. Any of those okay?"

"More coffee is good. Thanks!"

She didn't really need any energy, as her heart was racing already with the excitement of her first flight ever. In that moment, her ears popped and cracked.

"Uggh. My ears!"

Maya pulled out a pack of mint chewing gum to help with the popping in her ears. The hours felt endless. For a long time she journaled in a leather journal, with her favorite purple gel pen. She watched the movie 'The Princess Bride,' quoting all her favorite parts. Maya spent a great deal of time just staring out the plane window, daydreaming about her future.

"Gosh, I'm so glad that college is behind me... No more homework and quizzes... and research projects!"

After several intermittant naps, Maya was woken up to the sound on the plane speaker which said.

"Flight 207 will be landing at the International Tampa, Florida airport in 20 minutes!"

Maya sat straight up, she'd lost track of the time. Rubbing her eyes, she exclaimed,

"OH, MY GOODNESS! Finally! We didn't even crash! This 'death metal bird' is coming in for a landing... and very alive!"

She giggled, remembering what Ethan had texted her before the flight had taken off.

The plane landed and Maya stepped onto an airport monorail. Holding her backpack on her left shoulder, she held onto the metal pole and texted Ethan.

Maya: "You like surprises, right?"

Ethan: "Finally, you texted! You weren't kidding when you said you were going off-grid for a few hours... haha! Yeah, surprises are always fun! Why, did you finally figure the right world domination strategy? That'd be a pleasant surprise!"

Maya: "I'm in Florida!"

When Ethan saw this message, he dropped his mocktail right on top of a chihuahua's head. This particular chihuahua was dressed in fancy doggie clothes and was wearing a mini straw sombrero. The chihuahua glared at Ethan.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, little guy!"

Ethan: "What?!? You're kidding?!! Where in Florida?"

Maya: "Tampa airport!"

Ethan: "I can come pick you up at the airport in like 40 minutes! I'm just at a quinceañera at the moment drinking a mocktail that I accidentally dropped. Haha!"

The chihuahua had started lapping up the spilt drink but eyed Ethan like he was the devil himself.

Maya: "Oh, no rush! I know this is all a huge surprise."

Ethan: What a wild and amazing surprise! I'm excited and shocked that you actually got in a plane at all!

Maya: "Finally get to see one another in real life... You're going to be more than just words and pixels on a screen... haha!"

Ethan: "Haha! Heck ya! I guess I'll see you soon!"

Maya: "Okay. :) :)"

Ethan patted the chihuahua's little head one last time. He skipped out of the party like an overly zealous antelope competing in a hurdles event at the Olympics. He made it to the airport and sifted through all the crowds of people. Ethan saw Maya and their eyes locked for the first time in real life.

Time felt frozen solid in the warmest kind of way.

Maya smiled, stating,

"You're taller than I expected in real life!"

Ethan laughed and gave her a hug.

"I just can't believe it. One minute I'm at a party and the next I'm at the airport with you right here!"

Ethan paused to take it all in.

"Welcome to Florida! Hey, let's grab some food for a picnic on the beach. The sun should be setting pretty soon."

They grabbed some sandwhiches from Publix and Ethan made sure to get some orange juice.

Their in-person connection felt as natural as the sky and ocean did. Peacefully, they watched the sunset in radiant hues and breathtaking blends of pink, orange, and red.

Resting on the sandy beach, Ethan poured the orange juice into small cups. Taking a quick glance at the back of the juice bottle, he started laughing.

"What's so funny?"

Maya asked.

"It's just... you came all this way to Florida and I just realized this orange juice was not made in Florida at all, but it was made in Brazil!"

They laughed and enjoyed the rest of the evening, as they watched the sun slip down into the...

'someday' that 'began today'!

Author’s Note:

To read part 3, written by Komal, follow the link listed below: