Episode: 10 Departures
678 Words
"Sometimes, the future begins with a single stamp on a passport."
Do you trust me?
My thumb lingered over the screen.
The question no longer felt impossible to answer.
Three months ago...
I would've laughed if someone told me I'd leave South Africa because of a conversation that started on a dating app.
Now...
I looked down at my boarding pass resting neatly against my passport.
Destination: Los Angeles.
One-way.
Maybe...
I'd already answered his question the moment I booked the ticket.
A small smile found my lips.
Me: I do.
The message delivered.
For a moment...
Nothing happened.
Then the familiar typing indicator appeared.
Disappeared.
Appeared again.
Finally...
Dominic: Good.
I laughed quietly.
"Of course."
Some things never changed.
Another message appeared.
Keep your passport somewhere you can reach it.
I shook my head, smiling.
Me: Already done.
Dominic: Good.
I slipped the passport into the front pocket of my handbag anyway.
Not because I'd forgotten.
Because if Dominic reminded me, there was probably a reason.
The terminal slowly came alive.
Families gathered their belongings.
Children chased each other between rows of seats until exhausted parents called them back.
A businessman hurried past, balancing two phones and a laptop bag.
Across from me, an elderly couple quietly shared a packet of biscuits, smiling at one another without saying much at all.
Everyone seemed to know exactly where they were going.
I hoped I did too.
An announcement echoed through the terminal.
"Passengers travelling to Los Angeles via Doha are kindly requested to proceed to Immigration."
My stomach tightened.
This was it.
I stood, adjusted the strap of my handbag and picked up my carry-on.
Every step toward Immigration felt heavier than the last.
The line moved surprisingly quickly.
When it was finally my turn, the officer held out his hand.
"Passport."
I slid it across the counter.
He flipped through the pages before looking up at me.
"Purpose of travel?"
"Employment."
He nodded once.
His fingers pressed the stamp firmly onto the page.
THUD.
The sound echoed louder than it should have.
Almost symbolic.
He handed the passport back.
"Safe travels, Miss Buthelezi."
"Thank you."
I stepped away from the counter.
My phone vibrated almost immediately.
I frowned.
Dominic.
Dominic: Have they stamped your passport?
I stopped walking.
How...
How did he know I'd be at Immigration already?
I looked around as though he might somehow be standing nearby.
Ridiculous.
He was nearly ten thousand miles away.
Me: Just now.
The reply came almost instantly.
Dominic: Good.
There it was again.
Good.
Always good.
I smiled to myself and slipped my passport back into my handbag.
Passengers slowly formed another queue leading toward the boarding gate.
The aircraft waited beyond the glass, its white body glowing beneath the evening lights.
One more message.
My phone buzzed again.
Dominic: One more thing.
My heartbeat slowed.
Me: Go on.
The typing indicator appeared.
Stopped.
Appeared again.
I frowned.
That wasn't like him.
Dominic never hesitated.
Finally...
A message appeared.
Dominic: There's something I should've told you before you boarded that plane.
I stared at the words.
The passenger behind me nudged my suitcase.
"Sorry."
I barely noticed.
My fingers flew across the screen.
Me: What is it?
The typing indicator returned.
Then disappeared.
Nothing.
No reply.
No explanation.
"Miss?"
I looked up.
The flight attendant smiled politely.
"Your boarding pass, please."
Heat rushed to my cheeks.
"Oh... sorry."
I handed it over.
She scanned it before smiling warmly.
"Enjoy your flight."
"Thank you."
I stepped onto the jet bridge.
The airport noises faded behind me.
Only one thing remained in my mind.
There's something I should've told you before you boarded that plane.
What hadn't he told me?
And...
Why wait until now?
I tightened my grip on my phone as I walked toward the aircraft.
For the first time since leaving home...
A small knot of uncertainty settled in my chest.
But it was too late to turn around.
The plane was waiting.
And so...
Was my future.
- Writer
