Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 118733 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 594(@200wpm)___ 475(@250wpm)___ 396(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 118733 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 594(@200wpm)___ 475(@250wpm)___ 396(@300wpm)
Kent opened the small med kit he’d put in his backpack and took out the anticonvulsant. The rest of his equipment—the syringes, additional medications, and other essentials—he’d checked for the flight. He handed Palmer the pill and then opened the complimentary water bottle for her. She took the water and sipped until she could no longer feel the capsule in her throat.
“Good evening,” the flight attendant said when she stopped at their seats. “What can I get you to drink?”
Kent took the liberty of ordering hot water for Palmer’s green tea and asked for a soda for himself. Palmer rested her head against the back of the seat and looked at Kent. “I don’t remember if I thanked you or not.”
“For what?” he asked.
“For all of this,” she said. “For taking care of me. If it weren’t for you . . .” Her words trailed off. If he hadn’t come to her apartment that day and proposed this trip, she wouldn’t be on the plane right now. She’d be in the morgue, waiting for the year to expire so the city could cremate her. Palmer had had every intention of ending her life. When she thought back to those days, not too long ago, and how she could’ve gone to a hospice or just ended things on her own terms, tears fell from her eyes.
Kent brushed her tears away softly and spoke quietly to her. “Something bigger than us brought us together, Palmer. I’m right where I want to be.” He kissed her forehead and then wrapped his arm around her shoulders. She hid her face in his chest and cried. It wasn’t the first time she had shed tears about her impending death, and it wouldn’t be the last.
The flight attendant returned with their drinks. Kent took them and waited for Palmer to situate her tray. He set them down and then took two of each snack offered, even though they had just eaten.
“Once we take off, we’ll dim the lights. We have dinner service available as well, if you’re interested.” Before she left, she handed them a package that held an eye mask, wired earbuds, and slipper socks.
Palmer made her tea while Kent fiddled with his screen. He found something to watch, plugged in the headphones, and let them dangle.
“Should I get mine out?” she asked Kent.
“I thought we could share,” he told her. “I’ll use one, and you can use the other. This way we can watch something together.”
“I like that.”
“As soon as we’re airborne,” he told her. “The screen is going to show preflight announcements, so we might as well wait.”
She sipped her tea and watched out the window while they taxied. Kent leaned over the armrest and pointed to the other planes in line to take off.
“Such a well-oiled process,” she said as they inched forward.
Palmer reached for Kent’s hand when the plane began gathering speed. He held her tightly and spoke calmly in her ear as the plane took off. The initial bounce the plane made once it was off the ground jostled her, but Kent was there describing everything to her.
“Look out the window,” he said in her ear. She leaned forward and let out a small gasp. “The city at night, from this elevation, is beautiful.”
“It really is.”
By the time they reached elevation, she had her arm wrapped around his, and she rested her head on his shoulder. At some point, they fell asleep like that.
It was the sun that woke Palmer first. It beat through the tiny window and caused her to squint. She moved to close the shade and then screamed out in pain. Her hands went to her head instantly as a sharp stabbing sensation coursed through her.
“Breathe,” Kent said. He reached for her seat belt, released it, and gently guided her until her head was between her legs. Kent knelt there, between the seats, and rubbed her back. “It’s the air pressure,” he told her. “We’re going to be on the ground soon.”
“Open,” he instructed when his fingers touched her lips. She did so without reservation. “Give it a minute to work.” Whatever Kent had given her dissolved on her tongue. She was grateful she didn’t have to move because she wasn’t sure she could sit up right now. Kent kept his hand on her back, moving it up and down. The motion soothed her.
Palmer turned her head slightly and saw that Kent had blocked her from view. He had the keen sense to shield her from the people across from them. She wanted to cry and crawl into his arms. She stayed where she was and met his gaze.
“Sir, I’m going to need you to take your seat,” the flight attendant said as she came by. Kent scowled but did as she asked. He still angled his body to keep prying eyes away as best he could.