Chapter 4 Last Moment

I got home, went straight to my room and didn't turn the light off until past midnight.

My suitcase was open on the floor, clothes everywhere more like a fashion accident, I folded things, unfolded them, and refolded them. Black gowns. White shirt. The tie. Shoes wrapped in plastic bags from the mall. Everything that was supposed to go to Weston but somehow tonight felt less important than the thought of not writing anything for Lina. I rushed to my table and picked up a pen, rolling it in between my fingers like it was supposed to magically give me ideas.

Nothing came

And eventually I started writing.

Not proper words, nor neat formal letters. Just writing. Because if anyone could understand the messiest version of what I'm about to say or convey in this damn paper it was Lina. She always understands.

When I was done I folded it twice, wrote LINA on the front in big letters and left it on top of my bag where I wouldn't forget it.

I finished packing somewhere around 1am, zipped the suitcase, turned the light off and fell into bed after freshening up and wearing my nighties.

I'll set an alarm, I thought.

I did not set an alarm.

I woke up to the blazing light coming from the sun.

I grabbed my phone.

8:47am.

I stared at the screen for one full second.

Then I was out of bed.

"No no no no no—"

Her flight was at 10 and the airport was forty minutes away. I had not showered, talkless of changing my nightwear. I was still in my pyjamas — the pink ones with the small clouds on them that Lina had bought me as a joke two Christmases ago.

I grabbed my keys, grabbed the letter, and ran.

The drive to the airport was not legal at all,I was driving at the rate of a criminal.

I parked in a place that was probably not a parking space, grabbed the letter off the passenger seat and ran through the entrance doors with my cloud pajamas, my sliders and absolutely zero shame.

The departure board. Edinburgh. Gate 7. Boarding.

Boarding Oh My God.

I ran.

Past the check-in desks, past a family with too much luggage, past a man eating a sandwich who looked at me like I had escaped from somewhere.

Gate 7. Then I saw her.

She was right at the entrance of the boarding room, suitcase handle in hand, about to disappear.

"LINA!"

She stopped. Turned.

And when she saw me — cloud pyjamas, sliders, letter in hand, chest heaving — she just stood there for a moment. Then she shook her head and laughed softly like this was the most Ariya thing I could do.

I reached her and immediately put one hand on my knee and the other in the air, stopping her from saying anything before I had caught my breath.

She waited.

"You—" I gasped. "Could have — waited — one minute — dummy."

"Ariya," she said, still smiling. "My flight is at ten. It is nine thirty."

"Okay." I straightened up, still breathing hard. "Okay. Take this." I pushed the letter into her hands. "Read it on the plane."

She looked down at it. Then back up at me.

"I love you Lina," I said.

She stepped forward hugging me quickly, tightly like neither of us wanted to let go first. After all this would be the last hug we would exchange till she gets back and that would be awhile.

Then she pulled back, tucked the letter into her carry on, picked up her suitcase and walked through the boarding doors.

I stood there and watched until she was gone.

Then I stood there a little longer.

People kept walking past me while I just stood there in my stupid cloud pyjamas, listening to airport announcements and pretending I was okay, I let out a soft breath then turned to the exit.

LINA'S POV

The plane had been in the air for twenty minutes when she finally reached into her carry on and pulled out the folded paper.

LINA. Written in big letters. Very Ariya.

She unfolded it slowly and began to read.

Lina,

I know you're not disappearing and you're literally just in school in Edinburgh, not leaving the planet, and we're still going to call like normal… but I'm still going to miss you being around me the way I'm used to.

It's just different, you know? Like who am I supposed to gist with in real life now? This is actually a problem and I don't like it.

Not that I mind making new friends, but come on, what about the hot gossip?

But I'm really happy for you. Like genuinely. I love that you're going to Scotland, doing your thing, experiencing a whole new place — just please don't come back with a strong accent saying "it's the Edinburgh life for me" every two seconds. I will not survive that.

And don't worry, distance doesn't change anything. You're still my person and I'm still going to disturb you with calls and random messages like always. No escape.

Enjoy yourself. Focus on school. Explore. But also remember you have a best friend here who expects full updates and maybe souvenirs.

I love you.

— Ariya ❤️

I folded the letter slowly, tears streaming down my cheeks.

"Stupid girl," I muttered, shaking my head. "You just had to be Ariya didn't you."

I leaned my head back against the headrest and stared at the sky outside, looking weirdly calm compared to how I felt.

I fell asleep before the clouds changed.

ARIYA POV

I got home, dropped my keys on the table and stood there for a second doing nothing.

"Where did you go, Ariya?"

My father was in the sitting room, newspaper in hand, reading glasses on, looking at me over the frame the way he did when he already knew something wasn't right.

I looked at him.

My eyes were still blurry.

"To tell Lina bye," I said quietly.

His face softened immediately. He set the newspaper down.

"Oh my love," he said. "It's well okay."

I nodded. Once.

Then I went upstairs.

I freshened up, climbed into bed and put a movie on. I don't even remember which one. I just needed something playing in the background, something to fill the quiet while I stared at the ceiling between scenes.

I fell asleep without meaning to.

When I woke up it was 6pm and my phone was buzzing.

Lina: I've reached Edinburgh 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

I exhaled slowly, staring at the message.

Then I smiled.

Ariya: Don't come back with an accent.

Lina: No promises 😂