"If I had the opportunity, I would go back to that fatefull day"
***
The curtain hung loosely across the window, leaving a thin gap where a sliver of sunlight seeped through, painting a pale streak across the cluttered floor. Leonard's room was a battlefield of teenage chaosâcrumpled clothes lay scattered like fallen soldiers, and crushed snack wrappers peeked out from beneath comic books piled high on his bed.
"Leo, get up! You don't want to be late!"
Marie's voice rang through the closed door, loud yet laced with warmthâthe kind only a mother could master, where a reprimand felt more like a hug.
"I'm coming!" Leo grunted, turning to face the gray ceiling above him. His sharp auburn eyes, rimmed with dark circles, stared blankly. A large scar stretched across his chest, a cruel reminder of an event he wished he could erase from his memory.
Pressing his palm against the scar, Leo winced as a sharp, familiar pain flared. His teeth sank into his lower lip, muffling the groan that threatened to escape. It had been three months of this, every morning the same pain, the same torment.
Dragging himself out of bed, he staggered to the window and flipped the curtain open. The sunlight stabbed at his eyes, forcing him to step back before making his way to the door, which creaked open with effort.
In the dining room, Leo's eyes fell on a woman with long, shoulder-length blonde hair and striking auburn eyes. Her fair skin glowed in the sunlight pouring through the windows. Despite her youthful appearance, she was thirty-eightâMarie, Leo's mother.
"Finally up, sleepyhead! Did you get enough sleep?" she asked with a teasing lilt.
"Yes, Mom, I slept like a baby," Leo replied, sarcasm dripping from his voice as he slumped into a chair and began wolfing down bread slathered with strawberry jam.
Marie rolled her eyes. "It'll get better with time. Just keep taking your medication, okay?"
Leo's jaw tightened. "Yeah, yeah, I know. 'It'll get better.' You say that every day, but it's been three months, Mom. Nothing's changed." His voice faltered, his gaze drifting toward the family portrait on the living room wall.
It showed a happy family of threeâhis mother, father, and a young Leoâall smiling brightly. Leo's chest tightened, and he looked away, focusing on his meal instead. Once he was done, he headed upstairs to shower and get ready.
Leo's nightmares, insomnia, and chest pain weren't caused by teenage heartbreak or common adolescent woes. Four months ago, he had been diagnosed with a heart condition requiring an urgent transplant. His father, unwilling to lose his only son, had given his own heart for the surgery.
While the operation was a success, it came with consequences. Leo experienced personality shifts and vivid dreams of his father. Every morning, he woke with searing pain in his chest. Medications and treatments offered little relief, and life had become a daily struggle since the transplant.
Dressed neatly and carrying a travel bag, Leo descended the stairs. Today marked a significant dayânot only was it the start of a new school term, but he was also heading on a field trip to Spain.
"Oh, look at my boy, all ready for school!" Marie said with a giggle, adjusting her corporate attire. Having lost her husband, she now juggled a demanding nine-to-five bank job and online therapy sessions to support the family.
"I've packed everything you needâsnacks, fruits, and new essentials," she said, pointing to a neatly packed box on the table.
"Thanks, Mom," Leo muttered, stuffing the box into his bag.
Marie stepped closer, her tone serious. "Now listen to me. You'll be on your own for a whole week. Promise me you'll take care of yourself, follow the doctor's prescriptions, and never skip your medication."
Leo's droopy eyes met hers briefly before he looked away. "Yeah, I know the drill," he replied, his voice sharp.
"Hey, look at me," Marie said, grasping his hands. "Everything will be okay. Time heals all wounds."
"But scars remain," Leo said, his voice deepening. "Haunting scars."
"Yes, scars remain, but they remind us that we survived something painful," Marie replied softly.
Leo pulled his hands away. "Mom, I'm not one of your clients. I don't need a therapy session."
Marie sighed. "Butâ"
"We're running late. You need to get to work, and I need to get to school."
Without another word, Leo walked out to the waiting car. Marie remained behind, staring at the family portrait. Tears welled in her eyes, but she quickly wiped them away with her handkerchief, putting on a brave face for the day ahead.
***
Students swarmed all over the place. Some were heading into the school building, while others wandered about, playing and chatting. It was a typical morning at Mebrough High School.
Marie parked her car in the school's parking lot. Leo stepped out, dragging his bag, which was nearly twice his weight. It threatened to pull him down, but he steadied himself and slung it over his shoulder, gripping it tightly.
"Have a good trip, and try to build closer bonds," Marie said, adjusting her sunglasses. "Oh, that reminds me, I spoke with Austin's parents. I remember you two used to be close, so don't push him away. He promised to look out for you."
"Yeah, I'll try my best, Mom," Leo mumbled.
Just as he was about to leave, a familiar, cheerful voice interrupted.
"Well, hello there, Mrs. Herbert! Looking beautiful as always."
Marie turned, a smile lighting up her face. "Oh, speak of the devil! We were just talking about you, Austin."
Henry Austin, a chubby and cheerful guy with long, dark hair resting just above his shoulders, approached. His round cheeks and small eyes gave him a baby-like appearance.
"Don't worry, Mrs. Herbert. I've got the memo, and I promise to keep your son safe. Look, he's in great hands." Austin spread his large hands wide.
Marie chuckled. "Great hands, indeed. All right, boys, have a safe trip."
"You too, Mrs. Herbert," Austin said, waving as Marie reversed the car and drove away.
Leo sighed in relief, scanning the crowded school premises.
"Heyâ" he began, only to be cut off by Austin.
"What's up, my dude?!" Austin exclaimed, throwing an arm around Leo and adding to the weight of his bag.
"Man, I tried calling you, but you didn't pick up. You ghosted my messages too! Yeah, yeah, I get itâit's because of, you know..." Austin tapped his chest. "...but you could've at least let me know you were okay. For a moment, I thought you were dead, dude!"
"Uh, sorry, man," Leo whispered.
"Save the apologies for later! C'mon, you've got a lot of catching up to do."
Austin grabbed Leo's heavy bag and slung it onto his own shoulder as they made their way to class.
Austin and Leo used to be inseparable, but everything changed after Leo's surgery. Battling insecurities, Leo thought isolating himself would be best. But clearly, Austin hadn't noticed the distance.
"Dude, some new girls joined this trimester. They're so hot. I've got my eyes on one, and I'm planning to use this trip to impress her. By the time I've flexed my Spanish skills, she'll be all over me. Oh, and did you hear? Toby got expelled. He and his gang were caught smuggling drugs, but isn't it weird he was the only one punished?"
Leo slapped his forehead, cutting off Austin's rant.
"Can you do me a favor and shut up?"
"Sure, anything for you, my dude. But seriously, you've changed. You're carrying this... dark, negative aura now. Don't get me wrong, it's kinda cool..."
Leo sighed, realizing there was no stopping Austin's chatter. He wasn't enjoying it anymore like he used to.
Finally, they entered the classroom. As they stepped in, the lively chatter abruptly stopped. Every pair of eyes turned toward Leo, their expressions a mix of shock and curiosity. Intimidated, Leo clutched his chest tightly.
"Ah, I forgot to mention," Ms. Annie, their homeroom teacher, said. "As of today, Herbert Leonard will be resuming classes and joining us on the field trip."
Austin, ever dramatic, waved his hands like he was presenting a prized artifact.
"Well, Austin, show Leonard to his seat," Ms. Annie said.
"Understood, Your Majesty," Austin joked, leading Leo to the back of the classroom. Leo had to step over bags littering the aisle, all while enduring stares that made his skin crawl.
As they sat down, Leo's gaze fell on a red-haired girl seated a chair away. She was looking back at him, her eyes filled with shock and pity.
Nancy.
Leo's heart clenched. Her expression stirred a mix of emotionsâpity.
Nancy's gaze broke when a blonde jock, Billy, wrapped his arm around her shoulder and poked his head toward Leo.
Leo turned his attention to Ms. Annie, who was still addressing the class, though no one seemed to be listening.
"Sorry, man. A lot's happened since you left," Austin whispered, noticing what just happened
Nancy had been Leo's girlfriendâuntil she dumped him during his heart surgery. To be fair, she didn't know. Leo had lied, telling everyone he was going to Paris. After four months, no one had expected his return.
The morning roll call ended, and Austin resumed his endless chatter, this time about comics Leo had missed. Leo ignored him, scrolling through his phone, until a voice startled him.
"Hi."
He looked up. It was Nancy.
"H-Hey," Leo stuttered, unable to meet her eyes.
"So... how was France?" she asked, fidgeting with her hands.
"France? Oh, yeah. France. It was... cool."
"Cool. Bet you can speak French now. Maybe you can teach me sometime."
"Yup. Sureâ"
"Tsk, tsk! Requesting help from the wrong person, Nancy!" Austin interrupted. "I'm the master linguist here. Twenty-plus languages under my belt. French included."
Nancy laughed. "Then maybe you both can teach me sometime."
"Absolutely!" Austin declared with a dramatic bow.
Their moment was interrupted by Billy and his lackeys.
"Yo, Herbert! Back from France, huh?" Billy smirked, his arm still around Nancy. "Got any souvenirs for us? Maybe some... weed?"
His group burst into laughter.
"Sorry, I've got nothing," Leo replied quietly.
Billy sneered. "That's what you always say. You ever bring anything for the boys?"
"Because I'm the only one who deserves Leo's gifts," Austin declared, stepping forward. "Our friendship transcends what you can ever imagine. It's a bond of souls!"
The class erupted in laughter at Austin's over-the-top proclamation.
"Catch you gay couple on the plane, Herbert and Fatso," Billy said, leading his crew away.
Leo sighed, tilting his head toward Austin.
"Did you have to say that?"
"Say what?"
"Never mind." Leo dropped his head onto the desk.
***
The airport buzzed with its usual chaosâvacationers returning home, business travelers hustling between meetings, and others embarking on new journeys. Among the crowd, the entire eleventh grade from Mebrough High School, comprising two classes, clustered in a corner. They had just handed over their luggage at the check-in counter.
"Look, dude, over there," Austin said, pointing at a slim brunette with round glasses. "That's one of the girls I've got my eyes on. She's from the other class."
"She's cool," Leo replied, scrutinizing her. "Hey, I'm gonna grab something to drink. Call me if anything happens."
"Sure, my dude, but be quick. You don't wanna anger Her Royal Highness, right?"
"Yeah, yeah."
Leo made his way to the canteen, returning with canned drinks. On his way back, he accidentally bumped into a man wearing a long black coat and a hat pulled low over his face.
"Sorry," Leo said quickly, locking eyes with the man. His pupils were unnaturally dilated, and his sclera was an unsettling red. Leo froze, terrified, before moving aside. As he stepped away, he kicked a book lying on the floor. Its cover was worn and faded, the title barely legible: A Journey to Beyond.
"Excuse me, sir, is this yours...?" Leo asked, glancing up. But the man had vanished into the bustling crowd. After a pause, Leo shrugged and slipped the book into his bag.
After ten more minutes of waiting, the group began boarding the plane. It was a small aircraft, accommodating 63 students from Mebrough High and 27 other passengers.
Once everyone had taken their seats, Annie, the homeroom teacher, raised her hand to catch the flight attendant's attention. She requested a moment to address the students, and the attendant nodded, giving her a brief window before takeoff.
Standing behind Annie was Mr. Fletcher, the young and athletic P.E. teacher in his late twenties. His sharp jawline, piercing blue eyes, and muscular build made him the center of attention wherever he went. He had been assigned to assist Annie in ensuring the students' safety throughout the trip.
"I want you all to behave yourselves, okay? In less than three hours, we'll arrive at our destination. So, pleaseâno trouble," Annie instructed.
"Okay!" the students chorused in unison.
"Ms. Annie, what's taking this plane so long?!" Billy shouted from the back, prompting an outburst of laughter from his friends.
"Alright, that's enough! I want you boys to quiet down and behave this instant," Mr. Fletcher interjected, stepping forward with authority.
"Hmph, bunch of pricks," Austin muttered, making himself comfortable. He glanced over and saw Leo holding the book. "Hey, dude, where'd you get that?"
"Uh, I found it... I mean, I got it from the canteen," Leo stammered.
"Really? Didn't know you were into novels. New hobby?" Austin snatched the book, flipping through its pages. "It's empty. There's nothing in it."
"Yeah, I noticed," Leo replied, taking the book back. He opened it to the first page, where bold text greeted him in an unfamiliar script:
'If you wanted to take a vacation, where would you like to go?'
"So, you got ripped off?" Austin teased.
"Yeah, you could say that," Leo replied, ending the conversation. He leaned back in his seat, gazing out the window.
The pilot's voice suddenly crackled over the intercom, instructing passengers to fasten their seatbelts and prepare for takeoff.
Leo closed his eyes, clutching his chest. This was his first time on a plane, and nerves gripped him tightly. Austin, however, was unfazed, munching on potato chips as if it were any ordinary day.
***
An hour had passed since takeoff. Almost everyone was asleepâespecially those comfortable with flyingâwhile others, still nervous, kept themselves occupied. Leo had his headset on, listening to calm music as he flipped through the blank pages of the book he had picked up. Suddenly, a tremor shook the plane, jolting everyone awake.
"What was that?"
Austin asked, swiveling his head frantically.
"Relax, everyone. It's just a mild current," the pilot announced calmly.
"These things are common. You can all relax, okay?" the flight attendant added with a reassuring smile.
"Damn, I thought we were about to die," Austin muttered as he wiped potato chip crumbs from his mouth and prepared to go back to sleep.
Before he could get comfortable, another tremor hitâthis time, much worse. The flight attendant's reassuring smile faltered as she tried to calm the now-panicked passengers. Moments later, another violent jolt rocked the plane, tilting it sharply to one side and throwing everyone into chaos.
"Please fasten your seatbelts! I repeat, fasten your seatbelts and put on your oxygen masks!" the pilot commanded.
Passengers scrambled to comply, including the visibly shaken flight attendant. Leo glanced out the window and saw the plane surrounded by dark, swirling clouds. It was clearâthey were caught in a storm.
The plane lurched violently again, tossing passengers against their seatbelts. The overhead lights flickered erratically, plunging the cabin into bursts of darkness. A chorus of panicked whispers and prayers filled the air as oxygen masks dropped from above.
The flight attendant forced a strained smile. "I told you, it's totally normal. Everything is normalâŚ"
Another tremor struck, far more powerful than the last. The plane's nose dipped sharply downward, throwing everyone forward. Only their seatbelts kept them in place.
In the cockpit, the two pilots wore grim expressions. The compass spun wildly, and the coordinates were completely scrambled.
"Maday Maday, this is an emergency, flight A-145 to tower, please respond we have an emergency. Shit no response!!"
"Pull! Pull!" one shouted, yanking the controls.
"Damn it, we're dropping rapidly!"
"Ten thousand feet... nine thousandâŚ"
"An island! I see an island!" one of the pilots exclaimed.
"What did you say?"
"Look over thereâan island!"
"Can we make it?"
"I don't know, but we have to try!"
The pilots exchanged a determined glance and began pressing buttons, working frantically to control the descent.
"Pull, damn it, pull!"
They yanked the control together but and managed to make it some feet above the island.
"Oh my God, this is it. I love you, Momâ"
The plane smashed into the dense canopy of trees. The nose crumpled on impact, fire erupting as the body of the aircraft tore apart. Metal screeched against the earth as the wreckage tumbled violently before finally coming to a halt.
When the chaos subsided, the forest was eerily silent, save for the faint crackling of flames.
It was safe to say the survival rate of the crash was devastatingly low.