Blink

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At the airport all I did was cry and periodically wipe the snot from my nose before it grazed my upper lip. Standing in line for my flight ticket, I look around, seeing mothers with their children and pets sitting on the floow, all waiting for a way out. From the collection of empty plastic water bottles and crinkled plastics bags of once-was food, they've been here for hours.

 

“They’ll probably fly you to Cyprus or Greece and then you’ll be able to catch a flight to Belgrade,” Nate tells me while stroking my damp cheek. “It’ll be okay, we’ll see each other in a couple weeks.”

 

We get to the ticket counter and the middle-aged lady takes my passport, smiling warmly. “So your flight is just about to go.”

“Where am I going?”

“You’re going to Düsseldorf, Germany.”

“What? Are you joking?” looking at Nate anxiously.

“Is there another flight she can take?”

“No, I’m sorry, this is the last flight out today.”

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She prints out the ticket and hands it over to me with my passport. “Safe flight.”

 

I can feel the heat rising in my chest. “I don’t have a jacket. I have nothing with me.” Raising my voice in a panic, “everything is in those fucking boxes!”

 

“Listen, it’s going to be okay.” He says, stroking my cheek. “It’s a quick flight and then you’ll be with your family.”

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I don't hear anything he says. I feel the cold sweat on my hairline, my heart pounding. I think I'm having a panic attack. “Please come with me,” eyes watering. “Please come with me. I can't do this, I can't do this.”

 

“Breathe," he rubs my back as I bend over, trying to collect myself. "You know I can't come. They’re going to call me to the army soon. I can’t leave.”

 

“Flight 6252 to Dusseldorf, please follow me” a bald man in a black windbreaker yells out. People eagerly form a line behind him as he waves his hand in the air. “Let’s go people, let’s go!”

 

It took a moment for me to realize that we're separating. I try grabbing onto him, but people are shoving themselves into the line, Nate grows further away from me. 

 

“I love you,” I scream out. “I’m sorry, I'm sorry.”

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*story based on the October 7th, 2024 Massacre 

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