The Luna Choosing Game

At the airport, we were led onto the tarmac to board a smaller private jet.

The royal jet, though small, lacked for no luxury. The seats were the finest leather. There was a sitting room and a large television.

I'd never really been on a plane before at all, much less a fancy one like this.

But I had seen what a cramped regular plane was supposed to be like on television and in movies. So I knew this was something much more elaborate and different.

Despite the large area for mingling, I led Elva to the forward-facing chairs with seatbelts. Like me, Elva had never been on a plane either. I had heard that taking off and landing were the

scariest parts. I didn’t want her to be scared.

However, as we sat in our chairs, she swung her legs back and forth like a dance, and sung to herself absentmindedly, like she hadn’t a care in the world. She seemed totally relaxed, ready for anything. Though maybe she just didn’t know what was to come.

“It’s going to be okay, Elva,” I told her, not for the first time. “If you get scared at any point —” “I know, Mommy. I’m not scared.” That wasn’t the first time she’d said that either.

When everyone and the luggage was boarded, the pilots turned the plane toward the runway. I held onto the armrests of my leather seat with both

hands, after securing both mine and Elva’s belts for the fourth time.

Elva just looked out the window. She was still singing her mindless song.

“Elva...” “Not scared, Mommy.” The engines kicked on. The plane rumbled.

My fingernails dug into the leather.

Elva continued to sing.

The plane shot forward.

then lifted, up off the

pressed back

was fairly certain I'd left my stomach back on

held on for dear

like this was a carnival ride

the plane leveled out, I started to breath

Her face was pressed to the window, her finger tapping it. Beyond her, I could

shaking. No, my entire body was trembling. The blood was draining from my

would anyone travel

couldn’t let Elva see how much I was freaking out, or she might read my energy and freak out too. But where could I go on such a small plane? People were

popped open, and I hurried to stand. “I have to go to the bathroom,” I said to Elva,

Halfway through the plane was a set of bathrooms. Just

there. He smiled when he saw me, smirk quirked like

“You alright?” he asked.

before,” I said. By now, my voice was shaking too, just like the rest of me. God, I was having a

the bathroom with him. Behind me,

small for two people. Our knees bumped even as we stood in front of each other. But the enclosed space was comforting. In this room, I couldn’t see the clouds or the small buildings far

arm slipped around my waist and he tugged me into him. I dropped

and I tried my best to. He was breathing steady. My breaths were erratic. It took me some time, and a lot of concentration to match him. “There you go.” © “Julian...” “you don’t have to say anything, Piper.” He wasn’t

Elva to see,”

after a few moments.

know about this,” julian said. “How is she doing? It’s got to be her first flight too, right?” I laughed a little. It wasn’t entirely honest, still nervous, but it was getting there. “She’s having the time of

never had the money for travel,” I told him. “But I did take her to the carnival when it came to town. She’s too young to ride the bigger things, but she likes some of the kiddie rides.” “She’s going to be a daredevil, I bet,”