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‘
As night time approaches, the people around you begin to fall asleep,
but you’re not tired. You think about how that mother will never see
her children grow up, that woman over there is never going to make
it to her daughter’s wedding and finally, that man’s wife who will fall
into a deep depression once she hears the news, just to end up
overdosing on her medication. Such a pleasant thought.
‘
You reflect on your life for a while, while others are asleep. You reflect
on the hardships that have come with growing up without your
parents, living in a home with people who aren’t your family, being
bullied for being different. You have long black hair, piercing green
eyes and an unshaven beard. Your tall, muscular physique has turned
many an eye over the past decades as you have made your way, quietly,
through society. In university you were a promising athlete, with
basketball your forté. Always the one with the broken heart, you have
never experienced what it is to take something like that away from a
person. As they say, you’re never too old to learn.
‘
Turbulence.
A little Australian boy wakes up a little way down front. As he
tugs on his mother’s shirt, she finally wakes to see the deep tears
streaming down his small face.
‘What’s wrong sweetheart?’
‘Mummy, the plane is shaky.’ He whimpers.
‘Oh darling,’
And with this, she embraces his trembling form, his head buried
in her breast as she comforts him until the plane stops shaking.
‘It’s all right folks, we’ve just passed through an area of local
turbulence. Please remain seated, seat belts fastened and enjoy the
rest of your flight. Just a few more hours until we arrive in beautiful
London! The city of dreams.’
What are dreams? Some dream to be astronauts, exploring the
world in search of hope and other life. Others dream of smaller
things, a family, a new house or just surviving the day. You dream of
being remembered. How good would it be to be remembered?
‘
It’s almost time now. You’re doing so well. You walk to the toilets.
‘Did you need the lavatory sir?’
Turbulence
11