Farewell

Jason Stephenson, Contributor

It was almost six in the morning, the sun had already risen and Shannon opened her eyes. Her room was a mess, just like every other morning, scattered with textbooks and notepads everywhere. Shannon barely had time to clean up anymore, all she ever managed to do these days was either study or sleep, especially sleep, she was just so tired lately.

She sat up on the edge of her bed and yawned. She didn't even get to change her clothes from the night before. Shannon always had a bad habit of not changing before falling asleep and her mother would cuss at her for destroying her outdoor clothes.

Shannon took a deep whiff of the air, she didn't smell any scrambled eggs coming from the kitchen - she always smelled scrambled eggs coming from the kitchen. Her mother only made them for her. Why not today? Had she found out she fell asleep in her outdoor clothes? Was she upset with her? Shannon quickly leapt out of bed and tiptoed to her mother's room, but she wasn't there.

Suddenly, like a flash of light, everything from the night before came pouring back into her head. There was an argument between her and Tony. He got a job offer all the way in England starting the very next day and the bastard took it. Shannon was so mad, she stormed out of his apartment, vowing to never speak to him again, but she didn't mean it; she was just upset. She couldn't bear the thought of him living thousands of miles away. She didn't get to hug him goodbye or wish him good luck - she didn't even get to bid him farewell.

Shannon bolted down the stairs - there was still time. She shot through the kitchen, sped through the living room door, darting past her mother sitting in the armchair by the corner.

"I have to catch Tony's plane, mom!!" she yelled. "Love you!! Sorry about the clothes!"

Shannon's mother jerked awake as the door slammed shut. Shannon ran like a lunatic along the roadside. She didn't even have a car, but that wouldn't stop her. She lived close enough to the airport; she could make it. She stopped to catch her breath, wiping sweat from her forehead. She made it. Shannon quickly brushed a hand through her messy hair, while fixing her blouse with the other. A young boy nearby stood in shock as Shannon adjusted her bosom.

"Didn't your mother ever tell you it's impolite to stare?" pouted Shannon.

The child began to cry as Shannon sprinted down the walkway, looking anxiously for Tony's gate.

Meanwhile, somewhere inside, Tony clutched his suitcase, slowly making his way to his departure gate as they announced his flight over the intercom.

"Flight 185 leaving for London is now boarding. All passengers, please make your way to the boarding gate."

She wasn't coming. He would have called, but what was the point? Her mother would only cuss at him for breaking her poor daughter's heart. Shannon wanted absolutely nothing to do with him. She hated him. Leaving was the last thing Tony wanted to do, but he really needed this job. Maybe, if he just waited a few more minutes. Tony sat back down in the waiting area, peering around the airport, hoping to see one small trace of his lover appear. Shannon burst through the number four gate and straight to the front counter.

"Flight 185, where is it? I need to get on that plane. It's urgent!" Then Shannon saw it on the flight schedule.

Flight 185 - London - Departed.

Shannon could practically hear the plane taking off in the distance. Tony was gone. With her face drenched in tears, Shannon ran out of the airport. If she only had one wish, it would be to see Tony again.

It was almost six in the morning, the sun had already risen and Shannon opened her eyes. She sprang up from her bed. She was in the same clothes from the night before. There was a fight with Tony - no scrambled eggs. She remembered. What happened? Had time reversed? Did she get her wish? Shannon sprang out of bed and sped downstairs, zipping through the kitchen and out the living room.

"I have to catch Tony's plane mom!!" she yelled. "Love you!! Sorry about the clothes!"

Shannon slammed the door behind her before running up the street once more.

Shannon's mother switched on the standing lamp in the living room corner. In her hand was a picture of her beloved Shannon smiling back at her. She got up early every morning just so she could sit there. She wanted to hear that door slam. It was her only comfort her daughter was still with her. She hadn't touched her room since it happened, and she doesn't make scrambled eggs anymore either.

Ten long years since her daughter ran through that door and never came back. If only Tony's plane hadn't exploded, if only she wasn't hit by that car during all the commotion, if only her precious daughter had a second chance - a second chance at life.

The next day, just like every other, Shannon's mother made her way downstairs and sat in the living room corner, in the dark, her daughter's picture in her hand - waiting.

It was almost six in the morning, the sun had already risen ... and Shannon opened her eyes ... .