Dana stood inside the airport, looking up at the Departures sign, and sighed. This was it. She was finally getting a step closer to meeting her dream woman, and a step further from her sadness. She loved that feeling of going somewhere far away, away from the hurt and pain at this point in her life. She checked in her suitcase and threw her shoulder bag on her back and made her way to the security scanners, once through there, there was no going back.

After getting a coffee and picking up a few magazines for the flight she made her way to the gate, ready to board. Dana sat by the window and watched as the planes landed and took off on the maze of runways. She thought of people on them, travelling for fun, business or to run away from their fears. She was doing all of these. Her head was swimming with thoughts of what she was finally letting go of, and the anticipation of what promise this trip might hold.

She shook her head as the announcement came through the loud speaker welcoming the travellers to their Departure gate and they would be boarding from the back. The seat rows called included Danas’ which she was glad to hear. The quicker she was on the plane and settled the better. She showed her ID and ticket and made her way down the gangway and through the door where she was welcomed by the cheery, enthusiastic cabin crew.

She was pleased to find she had a window seat, Dana loved to fly. She had travelled most of the States, but this was just like going home. A young man walked up to the row and looked at the small lettering showing the seating numbers and looked down at Dana.

“Hey! I’m Mark, looks like I’m sitting next to you for the flight! Nice to meet you!”

“Hi, I’m Dana”. Great she thought, as he checked her out. The last thing she needed was someone chatting away and trying to get to know her. She just wanted to be left alone at this point, to be able to comprehend what had happened in her life recently.

The cabin crew went through the plane checking the seat belts after the safety video. The lights were turned off and the plane finally left the terminal building and taxied towards the runway. Dana looked out the window as the familiar skyline of New York passed by her window and she sighed. The plane stopped at the end of the runway awaiting the ok from the tower to proceed and the engines began to roar into life, on what for Dana would be the trip of her lifetime, one that would possibly change her life for ever.