Free Deciding Tomorrow by Renee Ericson Page A

there’s no reason to get irrational now. I’ll see him again soon.
    The boarding area is filled with sleepy passengers and the scent of coffee beans, evidence of the early morning hour. I close my eyes, not from fatigue, but to let it all settle in.
    I take a moment to remember, to remind myself that I was kissing Brent not too long ago. It happened just this morning. Less than an hour ago, his lips were on mine. Last night, I was in his arms. I was there, in his bed. Like a dream I’ve been denying for years, our closeness remained despite the time apart. There is still an us .
    I left that just now. I still can’t believe I did.
    Without him next to me, it’s hard to believe everything that occurred in our short period of time together. The blur of my trip suddenly feels surreal with no evidence, only the memories in my mind.
    My coffee is empty, and the gate agent has begun boarding passengers. I enter the aircraft, find my assigned seat, and shove my handbag into the designated space at my feet. As more people continue to board, I buckle my safety belt and take out my phone to call Brent as promised.
    He answers on the first ring. “Hi, beautiful.”
    I miss him already. “Hi.”
    “Are you on the plane?”
    “Yeah.” I blink rapidly, affected by the sound of his voice. “Just boarded. Are you home?”
    “I just walked in the door. Is the plane full?”
    “Yes, they’re gate-checking people’s luggage.”
    “Are you scheduled to take off on time?”
    “We are. It takes off in about five minutes.”
    All his questions are so strange, and I have the fantastical thought that he might be on the plane with me.
    The flight attendant comes over the loud speaker.
    “Hang on.” I wait for the woman to finish making a standard announcement. “Sorry. Looks like they’re going to be closing the door soon. I can’t talk much longer.”
    “Okay. I’m glad you got on all right, and thanks for calling. Call me when you arrive. I’ll be at practice, but leave a message. I’ll call you back as soon as I can.”
    “Sounds good,” I answer automatically. I want to say so many things, but I’m unable to go down that emotional path, not wanting to surrender to the longing already building.
    “Can you do me a favor before you hang up?” he asks.
    “Sure.” I pray his head will pop into view over the seats ahead.
    It doesn’t.
    “Are you in your seat?”
    “Yes, of course I am,” I say, confused. “We’ll be taxiing soon.”
    “Can you reach your handbag?”
    “Yeah,” I reply, skeptical. “Why?”
    “Look inside the small zipper pocket.”
    I snatch the black bag off the ground and set it on my lap. Holding the phone with my shoulder, I open the latch to the main compartment, and then with shaky fingers, I pull open the zipper to the small interior pocket. A folded piece of paper sits within the small space.
    “What is it?” I ask, extracting it with my fingers. I deposit my purse back onto the floor and place the sheet of paper on my lap.
    “Miss,” a flight attendant says from the aisle. “We’re closing the door. We need you to end your call.”
    “Okay.”
    She stands stagnant, watching and waiting.
    “Brent, I have to go. I’ll call you when I get there.”
    “Read the note,” he says. “I miss you already.”
    “I miss you, too,” I choke.
    “Soon. Remember, soon.”
    “I remember.” I sigh. “Bye.”
    “Bye.”
    I shut down the phone and then slip it into the front pocket of my hoodie. We taxi from the gate, and without any hesitation, I open the note Brent was so adamant about me reading. The paper is actually a flyer for a local charity fundraiser sponsored by his team. I flip it over, finding Brent’s handwriting scrawled all over the once blank page.
Ruby,
You’re sleeping, and I’m awake. I tried so hard to fall asleep with you in my arms, but I couldn’t stop looking at you. You’re so peaceful in your sleep. Did you know that? It’s the only time you seem to hold