Susan tapped her foot as the family of six in front of her booked in. Please hurry up, she thought to herself. I can’t miss this flight. Luke will never forgive me.
Susan was always late wherever she went, and it drove Luke mental. Smart and exact, Luke suffered from anxiety every time Susan made him late. It was part of the reason they were separated. Still, this week away would help heal the wounds. It was a make-or-break for them.
If she missed this flight, they would be broken for good. Luke had told her to leave an hour early; he had made her promise to be there on time.
Hurry up, hurry up, will you, she thought to herself.
Everything always conspired to make her late. She always had good intentions to be on time, but it never worked. As she was leaving, the next-door neighbour turned up like today. By the time she had excused herself, she had got caught in rush hour traffic. Now she had one hour to book in, clear customs, and make the plane.
At last, the family of six cleared tickets. Susan almost threw her documents at the flight assistant. The kindly woman must have seen the panic on Susan’s face.
“Don’t worry, dear, you have enough time.”
Handing her back her ticket, she smiled.
“Go straight for security now. You only have hand luggage, so it shouldn’t take long to get through.”
Susan ran to security, praying her guardian angel would get her to the plane on time. Her marriage depended on her making this flight. Luke would not accept the fact she had missed the flight. He had told her several times if she didn’t join him away, he would have his answer. Her lateness would confirm everything he said was wrong in the relationship.
A large woman stepped in front of her as she stepped to security.
“Any sharp objects or liquids to declare.”
“No, nothing,” Susan said. “My husband has taken it all with him.”
The woman moved aside and allowed her to go through the scanner. Placing her bag on the conveyor belt, Susan noticed that the gate for her flight was open.
Looking at her watch, Susan breathed a sigh of relief. She was going to make her flight. Her guardian angel had come through for her once again.
That was when the woman was back, blocking her way. She put her hand on Susan’s shoulder and steered her away from the others.
“Is this your bag, Madam?” She said with a snarl.
“Yes,” Susan replied, hating herself for the quiver in her voice.
“You claim there is nothing in there that shouldn’t be.”
“Yes, that’s right, I packed it myself. Please, I have to make my flight.” Susan pleaded.
“Our scanners have picked up a weapon in your bag.” The woman said, holding her arm a little too tight.
Susan stood there for an hour while her bag was ripped apart. Finally, the deadly weapon was revealed. In one of the corner pockets was a small set of nail clippers. The clippers were surrendered, and Susan was free to go. She threw her clothes back in her bag and ran for the gate. Susan rounded the corner as the air hostess closed the gate and walked away.
Defeated, knowing her marriage was over, Susan sat down with her head in her hands and wept—the end of calling gorgeous Luke her husband, all because of a set of nail clippers. Luke would never forgive her. This is another example of her lateness and disorganisation ruining their relationship. Why now had her guardian angel deserted her?
She was still sitting there crying when the explosion on the tarmac rattled the windows. The bright flash from her plane lit up every window and brought her head out of her hands.
Susan walked down the aisle six months later to renew her wedding vows. She was only five minutes late to keep with tradition. The investigation was ongoing as to why the plane had exploded on takeoff. Susan never questioned her guardian angel again.