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Trials and Turbulence

Kierra Jefferson

    “Do you hate me, Magnolia?”
    Overhead bags had begun to shuffle, the plastic wheels booming atop the dirty pattern carpet below. The skylights blind the newly awake and unsuspecting flyers, like freshly installed football lights in a city stadium. Toddlers violently wailed in disdain, foreigners and children clapped in preemptive celebration, and flight attendants strolled down the aisle searching for last-minute trash. The surrounding area was a cocktail mix of stale city air and complementary tomato juice, a rather heady and potent scent with no other intention than to activate the fight or flight response. To everyone’s dismay, the captain announced that there would be a 45-minute delay to the arrival gate, a chorus of groans and adolescent whines erupted throughout the cabin, Maggie joining them in angered solidarity. Throughout the chaos transpiring, Maggie thought about what Anthony had said and silently hoped a higher power would intervene and interrupt the conversation.
    “Would you blame me if I did?” Maggie asked.

    The atmosphere was becoming stuffy and chilled, both young adults silently willing the other to say anything to make up for the awkwardness threatening to creep in. Maggie and Anthony had a complicated and hostile relationship ever since they were first introduced. Contempt and frequent fighting had contaminated every aspect of their collaborative existence, and at one point, the discourse made it hard for Maggie to focus on her studies.
    “I don’t hate you, Anthony. I don’t particularly like you, but I don’t hate you,” Maggie said.
    “Indifferent?” Anthony asked.
    “Indifferent,” Maggie said.
    After an embarrassing mental breakdown, Maggie decided it would be best to keep her distance from Anthony. Over time the screaming turned into small head nods of acknowledgment, and contempt turned into tolerance. Of course, completely ignoring each other was difficult as they shared the same friend group. Now with the two forced to occupy the same airplane seat aisle with nowhere to escape, it was becoming increasingly difficult to silently coexist.
    “I’m sorry, Magnolia. I know that doesn’t mean much now, but I am. I’ve, uh, I’ve made your life hell. And you didn’t, don’t, deserve that.”
    “Are you apo-”
    “Shush, it’s my turn.”
    Anthony’s head was positioned down, his shoulders were lowered, and his chewed fingertips twiddled together. Maggie stared in bewilderment as Anthony began to atone. She couldn’t remember the last time she heard Anthony apologize to someone, thinking about it now Maggie didn’t think she had ever heard him apologize.
    “Uh, I don’t know. I guess I was dealing with some stuff, c-crappy stuff. And, um, I took it out on you and that wasn’t fair. I was a total jerk about it, and I’m sorry,” Anthony said.
    Toddlers violently wailed. Flight attendants loudly scoured for last-minute trash down the center aisle. The seatbelt sign ding, ding, dinged in a constant rhythmic fashion.
    “Oh,” Maggie said.
    “Oh,” Anthony said.
    The only other time Maggie had been speechless was when she was a young child and her male bearded dragon turned out to be female and gave birth in the middle of her parents living room. Although the apology was incomplete and simple, Maggie figured this was the best she was going to get with Anthony.
    “I’ll think about forgiving you,” Maggie said.
    Anthony chuckled to himself and nodded his head in satisfaction, the young student leaning back in his seat and closing his eyes.
    “If you could forgive me by the end of the week. I’ve got a lot more of these to do before graduation,” Anthony said.
    His joke did not fall on deaf ears as Maggie laughed softly, making sure to hide her expression so as not to give him satisfaction. Finally, the plane reached the arrival terminal, and the airport rush was in full effect. Passengers were abandoning their seats and collecting the rest of their items, the flight attendants were lining up in the front of the plane, and the exit music creating a soft sendoff amidst all the panic.
    “Of course you do.”

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