Gemotions

The flickering airport monitor swam before Elias's eyes, the delayed flight status a cruel joke. He’d meticulously planned this trip, a proposal to his girlfriend, Amelia, under the Northern Lights. Now, the aurora borealis, a spectacle he’d only dreamt of, felt like a distant, unattainable fantasy. A knot of tension twisted in his stomach, and he paced restlessly.

He kept replaying the scene in his head, the words he had prepared. What would he do if he missed the flight? He pressed his palms to his temples, a frustrated groan escaping his lips. He really hoped he would get to see the lights.

A woman with fiery red hair, also stranded, offered him a coffee, her eyes reflecting a shared sentiment. “Terrible, isn’t it?” she muttered, her voice surprisingly gentle. Elias just nodded, taking a shaky sip. He needed to find a way to make it through the delay.