Page 2 of Saltwater Cowboy

Thankfully, the gate agents had already started the boarding process so that I could escape this suffocating city.

“Boarding group two!” The agent spoke into the microphone.

Two more groups to go.

“Group three!” Another large swarm of people made their way to the line.

Once the group had subsided, she called group four. It was finally my turn to make my way to the line and get the hell out of here. I queued up and counted down until it was my turn to scan my boarding pass. The scanner turned green as I held my phone up to it, almost to freedom.

“Have a great flight!” The gate agent chirped.

I offered a small smile. I quickly took inventory of everything, ensuring I had my bag and suitcase, and turned back once more before I stepped onto the gangway.

Maybe it’s naivety, but I thought Thad was going to come running towards me like they did in the movies. I had fully convinced myself that he didn’t mean what he said earlier and was going to come to Wippowa with me. It’s silly of me to think that someone who had told me they loved me for years would move with me like he had said. I couldn’t help but think the last two years of my life were a complete sham.

As I stepped onto the plane, the air was dry. My throat immediately turned into the Sahara desert, and I regretted not buying a seven-dollar bottle of water at the airport convenience store with my nine-dollar bag of candy.

Fifteen A. I repeated it over and over, checking each row. I dropped my tote bag in my seat and braced myself to lift my suitcase. When I packed it yesterday, I loaded it to the brim with the items I wouldn’t be able to live without if the airline lost my luggage. I didn’t think I would be the one lifting it.

My dad always said to lift with my legs, so that’s what I did, hoisting the bag into the overhead bin. I’m not sure if it was the rage coursing through my now-icy veins, but it was surprisingly easy.

I threw myself down in my aisle seat, becoming painfully aware of the vacant seat next to me—the seat Thad was supposed to be sitting in. I’m usually a nervous flyer, so this was pretty much my version of hell. I thought the glass of wine I had would help, but I guess it amped up my anxiety. I’ve gone three decades and have never flown by myself—strategically, of course.

I buckled my seatbelt and put my headphones on, tuning out the world. My head rested on the back of the seat, and I prayed for sweet, sweet sleep. I wanted to forget today. I wanted to forget the last two years of my life and pretend like it never happened.

My phone buzzed; it was a text from my best friend, Blythe. She packed up and moved to Wippowa Island, Georgia, a few years ago and is now married with a step-daughter and is pregnant with their first little boy.

Blythe: Have a safe flight. Can’t wait to see you guys soon!

My heart sank as I typed a reply. I couldn’t tell her that only one of us was going to be at the airport terminal.

Rose: Can’t wait for a hug.

That’s part of the reason Thad and I were moving—I wanted a fresh start, and I wanted to be with my best friends when they added a new bundle of joy to their family. There were moments that I refused to live through via video calls and photos. I wanted to be there for them. I wanted to be the fun aunt who gave them messy, yet thoughtful, gifts for the holidays. I wanted to be there for all the milestones.

Seattle no longer had anything to offer me. The well had run dry. My parents didn’t even live there. It was time for me to move on. Painfully, but move on.

I switched my phone to airplane mode before Blythe could reply and rested it face down on my lap, letting my “Good Vibes Only” playlist help me tune out the world. The weight of the day melted away as I dozed off to sleep before the plane even took off.

A slight tap on my shoulder jolted me back to reality.

“Miss?” The flight attendant rudely woke me up. Surely it was illegal to touch a passenger. Maybe…

I unsuctioned my headphones from my ears. “Yes?”

A burly man towered behind her.

“This man,” she shifted to the side and pointed towards him, “is sitting in that middle seat. Would you mind getting up?”

I yanked my headphones down around my neck. “That’s impossible. I bought that seat.”

“But it’s empty…” the bronzed-skinned woman observed.

“Someone was supposed…never mind. I paid for it.” I shot back. Was it too much to ask just to be left alone?

“Please, rest assured, we will refund your ticket.”

Being reimbursed for Thad’s ticket would certainly help in the grand scheme of financial things.