Fate

The Reply

He had just woken up from a very restless nap. He pulled his beanie off of his face and placed it back on his head to help control his hair. He hated sleeping on planes. Loved the sleep part but mostly hated the plane part. It was uncomfortable. He was cramped into his seat and he needed to stand up and walk around for a bit.
"We will be there in about 30 minutes Avi," his sister said as she played a game on her phone.
"And then food?"
"Then food. Of course."
Avi pulled his phone out of his pocket and connected to the plane's wifi. If there was one thing he couldn't go without it was wifi. Well, and food. And naps.
He saw that he had an email and smiled when he saw her name. She had finally replied. He had sent her several emails, countless pictures, and many many updates all without hearing a word from her.
He read the reply slowly and carefully. It was like he was searching between every letter for some sort of hint. A sign. Anything to tell him where she was and if she was happy.
"You are either a slow reader or you're over thinking that reply." He glanced at his sister and saw that she had read the email over his shoulder.
"A bit of both possibly." He felt that twinge in his chest again but this time it was different. Her reply was short but he could tell that there was some pain behind it. His mind started drifting and he caught himself wondering if she had been crying. If she was unhappy somewhere and couldn't leave.
'I can't let this get to me again,' he thought as he stood up to stretch. 'This is just some random girl I met once in Italy. I'm never going to see her again.'
He sat back down in his seat just as the 'please fasten seatbelts' sign clicked on. He couldn't help himself. He reread the reply a few more times. Still searching for something.
He began to hate himself. 'Why do I care so much for a stranger? Why can't I just let this go?' He felt some turbulence as the plane started its decent. He always hated this part. Turbulence always made him a bit nervous. He had hoped that one day he would get over it but so far, no such luck.
"Avi! Did you hear anything I just said?"
"Huh? What?" He turned his head towards his sister and waited for Esther to repeat herself.
"I asked if you wanted to go somewhere and eat or just take food back to the rehearsal space. We have to start setting up right when we get there."
"Oh. Takeout is fine. Just as long as it's food."
"Where is your head? You've been half gone since Italy."
"Just tired is all. The jetlag is starting to get to me. You know how it is. We are towards the end of the tour and I'm starting to burn out a bit."
"Well try and keep your head in the game. We have Chile and Argentina left. Then a bit of a break before Portugal."
He nodded and felt the plane touch down on the runway. He was glad that he would be able to finally get up and walk around for a bit. Avi got up and started unloading his carry-on from the top rack. Esther's had slid down a few rows so he went hunting for it so she wouldn't have to worry about it.
Esther was very busy these days. Finding fixers, making hotel reservations, and finding reliable transportation.
"What's that?" Avi asked, helping his sister out of the seat.
"A picture. Melody just sent it to me."
Avi glanced at his sister's phone and saw a picture of a plane wing out of a window.
"So I guess she's traveling again," Esther said, pocketing her phone.
'I just hope it's not too far away,' he thought as they exited the plane. He felt Kevin's arm around his shoulders as he walked and it prevented his mind from wandering off again.
"Japan bro! You excited?"
"Of course man." He smiled at his friend as they entered the main airport terminal. They were greeted by a bunch of screaming fans all holding up signs and waving.
"I don't think I will ever get use to this," he heard Scott say as he passed. They took a few minutes to sign posters, snap selfies, and hug necks. He always loved how devoted their fan base was. A few fans gave him gifts of small dragon figurines and beanies to add to his almost out of control collection. One fan even gave him a kiss on the cheek before he said he had to go which cheered him up a bit.
As he walked over to baggage claim he saw a quick flash of long dark hair and a camera bag. By the time he could turn the corner himself though, whoever it was had disappeared.
"Here. Your bag." Kevin had brought him his luggage and Avi took it from it.
"What are you staring at?"
"Nothing. I thought I dropped something is all."
He turned and headed out to the waiting vans with the rest of the crew. As he sat in the very back and stared out the window at the passing buildings and roadways. He couldn't help but think, 'was it her? Was she here?' He brushed it off as jetlag and dozed off again as they rode to the rehearsal space.