THE LUNA CHOOSING GAME - Season 5 Episode 65

At the airport, we were led onto the tarmac to board a smaller private jet.

The royal jet, though small, lacked for no luxury. The seats were the finest leather. There was a sitting room and a large television.

I’d never really been on a plane before at all, much less a fancy one like this.

But I had seen what a cramped regular plane was supposed to be like on television and in movies. So I knew this was something much more elaborate and different.

Despite the large area for mingling, I led Elva to the forward-facing chairs with seatbelts. Like me, Elva had never been on a plane either. I had heard that taking off and landing were the

scariest parts. I didn’t want her to be scared.

However, as we sat in our chairs, she swung her legs back and forth like a dance, and sung to herself absentmindedly, like she hadn’t a care in the world. She seemed totally relaxed, ready for anything. Though maybe she just didn’t know what was to come.

“It’s going to be okay, Elva,” I told her, not for the first time. “If you get scared at any point —” “I know, Mommy. I’m not scared.” That wasn’t the first time she’d said that either.

When everyone and the luggage was boarded, the pilots turned the plane toward the runway. I held onto the armrests of my leather seat with both

hands, after securing both mine and Elva’s belts for the fourth time.

Elva just looked out the window. She was still singing her mindless song.

“Elva…” “Not scared, Mommy.” The engines kicked on. The plane rumbled.

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My fingernails dug into the leather.

Elva continued to sing.

The plane shot forward.

Elva shouted, “Woohoo!” The plane then lifted, up off the ground, higher and higher.

I pressed back into my seat.

I was fairly certain I’d left my stomach back on the runway.

I held on for dear life.

Elva laughed and laughed, like this was a carnival ride and she was enjoying herself immensely.

When the plane leveled out, I started to breath again.

“Mommy, look!” Elva said. Her face was pressed to the window, her finger tapping it. Beyond her, I could see down to the city below. The houses looked like toy blocks. The people mere specs.

My hands were shaking. No, my entire body was trembling. The blood was draining from my face.

We were so high. Why would anyone travel like this? What could possibly be

the purpose? I needed to get out of here. I couldn’t let Elva see how much I was freaking out, or she might read my energy and freak out too. But where could I go on such a small plane? People were everywhere! But then I remembered the brief tour from when we boarded. There was one small room where I could be alone: the bathroom.

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Eventually, I fumbled successfully enough that the seatbelt popped open, and I hurried to stand. “I have to go to the bathroom,” I said to Elva, to anyone that could listen, and I stumbled into the walkway.

I rushed back. Halfway through the plane was a set of bathrooms. Just as I reached one, the door opened, and

Julian was there. He smiled when he saw me, smirk quirked like he might make some quip, but then he took a closer look.

“You alright?” he asked.

“I-I’ve never flown before,” I said. By now, my voice was shaking too, just like the rest of me. God, I was having a panic attack.

“Here,” he said, and tugged me into the bathroom with him. Behind me, he closed the door.

The room was tiny, much too small for two people. Our knees bumped even as we stood in front of each other. But the enclosed space was comforting. In this room, I couldn’t see the clouds or the small buildings far below. Here, I could theoretically be in any small bathroom.

Julian’s arm slipped around my waist and he tugged me into him. I dropped my head onto his shoulder and closed my eyes.

“Match my breathing,” he said, and I tried my best to. He was breathing steady. My breaths were erratic. It took me some time, and a lot of concentration to match him. “There you go.” © “Julian…” “you don’t have to say anything, Piper.” He wasn’t going to make fun of me then. Not about this. That was as much a comfort as his warmth and the strength of his arm at my waist, keeping me upright and secure.

«I didn’t want Elva to see,” I admitted,

after a few moments.

“She doesn’t need to know about this,” julian said. “How is she doing? It’s got to be her first flight too, right?” I laughed a little. It wasn’t entirely honest, still nervous, but it was getting there. “She’s having the time of her life.” He chuckled. “Of course she is.

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Probably thinks of it like a ride. You ever take her to the theme parks?” «We never had the money for travel,” I told him. “But I did take her to the carnival when it came to town. She’s too young to ride the bigger things, but she likes some of the kiddie rides.” “She’s going to be a daredevil, I bet,” Julian said.

“She already is,” I said. “That’s part of

my worry with her.” “Nah.” Julian rubbed his hand up and down my back. If I was a cat, I would have purred. “She’s a good kid. She’ll grow up to be a good adult. Just like her mom. Nothing to worry about.” I smiled at the compliment. Julian knew that technically Jane was Elva’s mother, but for him to imply I was actually her Mom instead made me smile.

“Thank you,” I said.

“I’m serious, she’s great.” “I don’t just mean thanks for saying those things about Elva,” I’said. “I mean, thank you for this.” “you feeling better?” “I’m getting there.”

“you ready to go out there?” “Not yet,” I said.

Julian hummed. He continued holding me and didn’t say one more word about it… until, I started to shuffle and gently pull away from him several long moments later.

“Ready?” he asked.

This time, I nodded. Though I trusted most everyone on this plane with my daughter, I didn’t want to leave her alone for too long. At the very least, she might begin to worry about me.

My little girl shouldn’t have to worry about me.

“Let’s go then.” Julian reached behind me and opened the door. With the sudden expanse opening up behind

me, I stumbled backwards. Julian caught me just before I could fall and yanked me back against his chest.

There, in the walkway of the airplane, we stood, holding onto each other with the single bathroom door opened behind us.

And there, two feet away, watching, was Nicholas.

His surprise disappeared in an instant, and white hot fiery anger replaced it.

He looked much as he did that early morning in the gardens, when he had rage shifted and attacked Julian.

Panic bubbled inside of me.

He wasn’t about to shift right here on the plane, was he?