TRIP OF EMOTIONS

DAMIEN

The gentle hum of the plane's engines fills the first-class cabin, but my mind is elsewhere. I glance at Anna beside me, noticing how pale she looks. She’s resting her head against the window, her eyes half-closed, breathing shallowly. Something's off, and it hits me with a pang of worry I didn’t expect.

I lean in closer, my voice soft. “Baby, you okay?”

She blinks slowly, her hand coming up to press against her temple. “I don’t feel too good,” she mutters, her voice weak. “I think... I might be getting sick.”

My chest tightens. I wasn’t prepared to feel this much concern, to care this deeply. I reach out without thinking, gently rubbing a hand on her knee. “You need anything? Water? Maybe some ginger ale will help?”

Anna shakes her head, eyes still closed, her hand resting limply in her lap. I don’t miss how her skin has taken on a faint sheen of sweat, or how she’s trying to keep it together.

“Hey, baby, look at me,” I say gently, shifting to see her face more clearly. She op