Chapter One #2
Carefully leaning forward, she peered over the edge and into pure oblivion, her thoughts a tangled web of heartwarming recollections and heartbreaking remembrances.
And it was in that tender moment between reflection and revelation that the world beneath her tilted and the ground underneath her folded legs seemed to crumble.
Unable to stop from falling, she pitched forward into the abyss, gravity pulling her with its merciless hands.
A sharp gasp escaped her as the cool, thin air rushed past, turning into a swirling vortex of clouds and sunlight.
For a heartbeat she fought against the drop, but then she did the only thing she could and surrendered to the descent.
Haze enveloped her, its misty touch scurrying across her skin, and for an instant, excruciating pain lanced through her being — a fierce reminder of life’s fragility.
Then, just as suddenly as it had begun, the descent ceased.
The pain dissipated like morning fog under the sun’s gentle rays.
Her breath steadied, and her heartbeat become a soft rhythm in her chest as she realised she was sitting in the familiarity of an aircraft seat.
Drawing in a deep breath, her eyes fluttered open, and she was no longer falling but floating, cocooned in the familiar hum of the staff-only area of the business-class cabin.
Blinking herself back to full consciousness while checking her watch, she was glad to see she hadn’t slept past her break time.
She turned left to right, looking for her fellow flight attendants.
Nobody was nearby. Her dream hung vividly in her mind, provoking her to let it linger so she could try and make sense of it.
Looking down at her legs, then at her arms, she finally looked at her hands, and turned them over.
Gone were the wrinkles of an older woman — here was the silky-smooth skin of her twenty-six-year-old self.
She sighed, smiling at the workings of her mind.
Everything seemed back to normal. Thankfully.
And now it was time to get back to work.
Standing up then ducking into the nearby restroom, she clipped the lock shut.
She needed a moment to completely steady herself.
Resting both hands on the basin, she locked eyes with her reflection, reminding herself she was young, happy, and very sane.
Her groomed curly brown hair cascaded in a vibrant halo around her face.
Her light, caramel-hued eyes sparkled with unbridled excitement at knowing she’d be landing upon Italian shores soon enough — the land of pasta, pizza and gelato had quickly become one of her favourite countries in the world.
Her starched blue uniform hugged her petite frame perfectly, and the new name badge over her heart declared her undying passion for exploring the skies.
Straightening, she nodded to herself and, after washing her hands and making sure she was impeccably presented, she stepped out and into the aisle, keen to do her best in her recently promoted role as a business-class flight attendant.
Four months in, and she was absolutely loving the far-flung travel.
‘Buongiorno, Mrs Cabinari,’ she called, greeting the passenger she’d chatted to earlier with a smile as warm as the Italian sun she so loved.
‘May I offer you anything before we begin our descent?’ ‘Un bicchiere d’acqua, per favore,’ the elderly woman replied, her voice filled with the melodic accents of the Amalfi Coast she called home.
‘Of course,’ Zara said graciously, fetching the water.
‘Grazie,’ the woman said before taking a sip. ‘And I hope you find your marito soon enough,’ she added, with a knowing, kind smile. ‘Perche e bella donna like you deserves grande amore.’
‘I’m sure my future husband is looking for me too, Mrs Cabinari.’ Zara smiled from her romantic, loving heart then turned and glided through the cabin.
‘Would you like some more coffee?’ she asked a young couple, who were eagerly conversing in a blend of French and Spanish, their hands interlaced atop a well-worn travel guide.
‘No, gracias, we’re simply too excited to see Amalfi to have any more caffeine,’ the man explained with a grin, his wide-eyed gaze alight with dreams yet to unfold.
‘Ah, the beauty of Amalfi will stay with you forever,’ Zara assured them, her voice filled with a gentle sense of knowing. ‘And make sure you try and see Venice, too, if you have the time, it’s absolutely stunning.’
‘Oui,’ the woman with heavily accented French exclaimed. ‘It’s on our list.’
‘Perfect,’ Zara replied with a smile.
As the plane banked gently, revealing the craggy coastline below, Zara’s own anticipation swelled within her chest. Another stopover, another adventure — each landing a gateway to the big wide wonderful world.
As a young girl, and especially through the years spent in one foster home after another, she’d never have believed her wish to become an air hostess would be fulfilled, but yet here she was, kicking goals.
‘Excited about this layover?’ whispered a voice. Suzanne, Zara’s colleague, best friend and keeper of secrets, was also peering out the window at the rapidly approaching landscape.
‘Always,’ Zara replied, her smile unwavering. ‘Each place has its own magic, its own love story to tell, don’t you think?’
‘Hmm, I’m not too sure about that.’ Suzanne nudged her friend gently. ‘Only you, my darling friend, would find romance in every corner of the earth,’ she teased, shaking her head affectionately.
‘Perhaps,’ Zara mused playfully, her laughter blending seamlessly with the hum of the turbo engines. ‘But isn’t that what life is for, Miss Jenkins? To seek, to find, and to cherish every drop of wonder this world has to offer?’
‘Oh, how I love your glorious spirit, my daydreaming forever friend.’ Suzanne’s smile made her bright green eyes squint, then she paused when the pilot announced they were almost there. ‘We better get this plane ready for landing, Zaza,’ she said, quietly.
With a nod, Zara continued her graceful movements through the aisles, her interactions with the passengers buoying her already soaring heart higher still.
Each shared word, each smile, was a vow to never let go of the thrill that came with chasing horizons.
Once she was satisfied that all passengers were safe and ready to land, she took her seat beside Suzanne and both women buckled up.
It wasn’t long before the wheels of the aircraft gently kissed the Italian tarmac and, with a slight jolt, her heart leapt in unison.
For her, every landing was an opportunity to embrace destiny, and every destination a love letter crafted by the world.
She’d long been a drifter, a soul searching for her roots, and right now she relished that search as she pressed her forehead against the cool window, her eyes feasting on the undulating terrain of the Amalfi Coast lit by mid-morning sunshine.
The shoreline was a sight to behold, with homes perched precariously on cliffs like barnacles clinging to a whale’s majestic body.
The Mediterranean Sea glistened, its surface a sheet of shimmering blue satin, rippling beneath the sun’s warm, golden fingers.
‘Che spettacolo,’ she whispered to herself, her words a gentle caress to the beauty unfolding before her. This land, this life, her free spirit revelled in it all.
The commotion of disembarking was merely background noise as she waited until every passenger had alighted then, alongside Suzanne, she finally made the familiar trek, stepping out of the airport and onto Mediterranean soil.
They were out of the airport in a jiffy, and into a lengthy, hazardous taxi ride with an impassioned driver who cursed every car and person within five feet of his car, and then they were finally in the hearty hub of Italian life with their hearts beating fast. Stepping out and onto the bustling street around the corner from their hotel, Zara felt her senses becoming intoxicated by the symphony of sights and sounds as the Amalfi Coast welcomed her with open arms. Couples strolled hand in hand, their laughter blending with the call of seabirds soaring above.
Sharply dressed waiters weaved between tables, expertly balancing plates of frutti di mare and seafood pasta.
Gelato vendors deftly scooped cold, creamy dreams into cups and cones while vino flowed like rivers of ruby and gold.
Hooking her arm into Zara’s, Suzanne snapped her from her reveries. ‘Come on, Zaza, after flying for forever, I need a hot shower like the desert needs the rain.’
‘Me too,’ Zara agreed.
Striding into the lobby, they headed to the counter and after a quick conversation, grabbed their room keys.
‘I’ll catch you a bit later on, for an Italian feast fit for Romeo and Juliet,’ Suzanne said while stifling a yawn.
‘After a freshen-up, that is, because I seriously need some shut-eye before I can tackle la dolce vita.’
‘Sounds like a plan, lovely,’ Zara replied as they stepped out of the lift. ‘As for me, though, I’m too excited to sleep, so after a shower I’ll go for a wander and come back here to grab you for dinner.’
‘Wow, you’re a powerhouse, I honestly don’t know where you get your oomph from.
’ Clutching the handle of her carry-on bag, Suzanne turned in the opposite direction.
‘How about we go to our usual trattoria, down by the sea,’ she called over her shoulder.
‘So we can perve on the handsome waiters again.’
‘Perfect,’ Zara called back with a giggle. ‘Sweet dreams.’