Chapter 10
BANG!
Sean’s phone slipped from his hand and hit the tile floor, the screen protector shattering in a web of cracks–like a galaxy exploding right
at his feet.
The special ringtone he’d set for Calista kept buzzing, drilling deep into his skull. Just an hour ago, that tune was sweet as honey. Now, every note felt like a thorn.
Sean’s eyes burned. The news headline was burned into his vision, the bold letters melting into black tar, flooding his mind.)
Flight MU587 crashed three minutes after takeoff. No survivors.
Crashed. No survivors.
No survivors…
Dead. All dead.
Bella was dead?!
“No, no, that’s not possible…” he whispered.
Just an hour ago, he’d driven Bella to the airport himself. He could still hear her voice, see her eyes, remember the exact color of her clothes.
How could someone so alive just disappear?}
No, she had to be alive. She had to be.
Sean scrambled to grab his phone, his hands shaking so badly it took over a minute to unlock the screen. The flight number, which should’ve been gliding through the sky, was now stuck in his notifications, marked with a bright red warning.}
He pressed a finger to the cold glass, trying to focus, but his whole arm felt numb with ice. He only realized he was trembling when he nearly dropped the phone again. Or maybe the whole building was shaking.
He didn’t remember running out of the hospital. Didn’t remember getting in the car.
Night pressed in, rain pouring as his black Maybach sped through the city. Sean floored the gas, red–rimmed eyes glued to the empty road.
Faster. Just a little faster. Please.}
The airport was packed, chaos everywhere–screams, sobbing, angry shouts, desperate cries all blending together.
“Why did this happen? Why did the plane crash?”
“Give them back! Give me my family back!“}
“I’ll kill you! I’ll kill all of you!“{
Grief slammed into Sean, squeezing the air from his lungs. He forced himself through the crowd, the world slowing down as if underwater.
People were shouting, some clawing at each other, every face twisted with heartbreak.
He finally reached the counter, tried to speak–his voice was gone, his mouth wouldn’t work.
“Sir, are you a family member of one of the victims?” a staffer called out.
Victim. The word hit him like a hammer.
Sean gripped the counter so hard his knuckles went white.
“Bella. I… I’m Bella’s family,” he managed to say.§
Worried he hadn’t been heard, he repeated it, voice cracking. “I’m Bella’s family.”
He had so many questions–was the crash real? Had everyone really died? Was Bella really gone?!
But when it came down to it, he couldn’t say a word. He just stood there, doing whatever the staff asked, answering whatever questions they threw at him, feeling like a puppet on strings.
Finally, someone handed him a paper. “This is the confirmation of Ms. Bella’s death. Please sign here.“@
A piece of paper with Bella’s black–and–white photo was set in front of him.
Sean stared, trying to read, but the words wouldn’t come into focus no matter how hard he rubbed his eyes. Panicking, he grabbed the arm of the person next to him. “I’m sorry, could you help me? What does it say?” The man looked furious, but when he read the paper, his anger melted into sorrow!
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Chapter 10
“My condolences,” he said quietly. “It says your wife… your wife was one of the victims.”
