I Quit Chasing His Flight Path

Brandon Smith has flown for eight years. I've been with him since the time he was an assistant pilot, all the way until he successfully rose to the ranks as the head pilot.

In the year Brandon's busiest with his career, I resign from my job and begin cooking according to his aviation schedule.

Just once, I bring up the question, "Can you please show me the sight of being thousands of feet in the air in the near future? Just once, please!"

Brandon continues eating from his plate. "The plane is a workplace, not an amusement park for you."

I reply, "Okay."

Since then, I never bring up that matter in front of him.

That is, until I find myself suffering from insomnia one night. That's when I accidentally come across an encrypted photo album tucked away in Brandon's phone.

There are over 40 photos in the album, all from his perspective as a pilot. There are seas of clouds, sunsets, double rainbows after a downpour, as well as the Milky Way in the night sky when the plane is over thousands of feet in the sky.

Every photo has been sent to the same person with a bear's emoji as their name.

The latest photo is a photo of the beautiful evening colors from three days ago. Half of the sun can be seen in the clouds.

The caption that comes with the photo says, "Today's sky is still beautiful as ever. When you come over next time, you can take the observation seat on the right. It gives you the best angle of the sky."

The bear emoji person responds with a hugging emoji and a short sentence. "Wait for me to go on my break."

I put Brandon's phone back where it belongs without changing the password and deleting the album.

Once the morning sun is up, I brew myself some coffee as usual before finishing it quietly. Then, I turn on my computer and book myself a flight ticket to Dalco.

It's been eight years. Finally, I don't have to chase after Brandon's flight routes and wait for his mealtimes. I no longer have to stay in an empty house while guessing which flight destination he's headed to right now.

Since Brandon's sky refuses to tolerate my presence, I shall move my roots elsewhere and watch the sunset on my own.

"Why are you up so early today?" Brandon Smith asked with a slight frown as he walked out of the bedroom, pulling his work suitcase.

I held my mug and watched him carefully attach the four-stripe epaulettes to his white shirt.

"I couldn't sleep, so I got up to have some coffee," I replied.

He walked over to the kitchen island, casually picked up the other cup of coffee I had just poured, and took a sip.

"Did you stay up late again last night watching those silly shows?" he asked.

"No."

"Melissa Howard, your sleep schedule is becoming increasingly worse," Brandon said, his