Roots in the sky

“Wow, she’s beautiful”, Jayden thought to himself as he walked down the long red aisle to his assigned seat right next to hers. “Ding Dong”, the sound that played before the pilot began his speech, the one where they recite the rules and warnings for sky travel, rang in his ears like a drum as his focus was entirely on her. She began adjusting her seat to lay back.

“Oh cool, I didn’t realize we could do that. It’s been a minute since I've flown anywhere.”

“That so ? Well, where are you headed now?”

“I’m flying to Phoenix to visit an old friend, You ?”

“I’m stopping in Phoenix too, but I'll be heading back to Los Angeles soon.”

He didn’t know what to say next. He’d gathered the strength to speak to her but as for what to talk about, he wasn’t sure. An awkward silence arose as the plane made its way into the sky. The clear blue sky found after a mountain of cascading clouds, was breathtaking. He doesn't normally fly often. As a child, seeing the landscapes fly past like a monopoly board was terrifying, everything seemed so insignificant.

“So. Why the short trip ? If you don’t mind me asking.”

“I’m looking for something. You ?”

“I’m just going for my friend's birthday.”

“Is that the only reason ? You seem like you’re a little lost.”

“ What do you mean ?”

“Like you don’t really seem to know where you’re going. Are you searching for something too?”

She was reading right through him like a book. He thought he’d successfully been able to hide the stress on his face, yet she peered through his shield easily with her emerald like forest green eyes, she reminded him of a cat.

“Honestly, you’re right. I suppose I'm going for my friend's birthday but I'm also…running from a few things back home. I guess I have been a little lost. What gave it away ?”

“It’s just something about your energy. It reminds me of the person I'm looking for, he’s lost too.”

“That’s interesting. It’s kind of funny but as soon as I saw you, I got this feeling that I had to talk to you. I’m not really sure why but I think I'm glad I am.”

“Do you believe in God ?”

“Which one?”

“Any of them.”

“Uhh Yes and no, I'm still learning what it means to believe in god.”

“Hmm. I believe that everything is connected, people, plants, animals, the Earth connects us all spiritually. I think It doesn’t matter which you choose to believe in, but that lost feeling you have, it’s because your soul is out of touch with your mind. In other words, your spirit wants to be heard. If you listen closely, I think you’ll find what you’re looking for soon.”

“What did she mean by that ? My spirit wants to be heard?” He thought to himself. While he had begun to ponder what truly aligns with his lifestyle, what brings him peace, Jayden’s yet to depict a self image of the soul. She made him wonder what it meant to have a soul, and how exactly is one supposed to hear it? Although, he wasn’t sure how to ask her to clarify. After that they began to speak on many things related to religion, spirituality, cars, books, anime, politics, all of which they had similar opinions on. He started to think where this woman had been all his life, and how lucky for him to have met her on a trip to Phoenix he haphazardly took.

The clouds began to grow thick, the plane gently rocked about like a sedan on a dirt road. Jayden drifted into a deep sleep. He dreamed of his cat, Roots. She was a beautiful black cat with long reddish-black hair and emerald green eyes, she reminded him of the girl. When he awoke, the girl was gone and he was sitting in her seat. He looked around the plane for her yet found no trace of her. “Where could she have gone?” Jayden thought, and for a brief moment, he remembered his dream. About Roots, and how similar she looked to the girl. “Was I dreaming the whole time ? Am I being delusional or- “

“Ding Dong”

“Welcome to Phoenix, Arizona. We hope you had a pleasant flight, and have a wonderful stay in Phoenix.”