Chapter 1

"This is the final boarding call for passenger Camilla Alfaro booked on flight SA073 to Orlando City. Please proceed to gate 2 immediately. The final checks are being completed and the captain will order for the doors of the aircraft to close in approximately seven minutes. I repeat. This is the final boarding call for Camilla Alfaro. Thank you."

She was on her toes the moment she heard the call. Camilla was dozing off on a corner when the pre-boarding announcement aired and she missed it. She was finally roused when her name was announced.

She mumbled an apology to the staff awaiting her at the gates. She then headed to join the others on the shuttle and apologized politely to the other passengers. It was her first time flying and alone at that, she kept scolding herself in her head for not being alert. What if she hadn't woken up and the plane had taken off? It would have been another exhausting hour of waiting. Not to mention the extra charges for rescheduling. She'd be in rags by the time she gets to Florida.

Her seat is by the window, and she settled in comfortably. Relief covered her like a shawl, happy thoughts on her mind.

After a pre-flight check with all the necessary precautions and instructions, the plane is finally ready to take off. Camilla's heart quavered with the turbulence of the plane as it shots through the open sky. It felt like a never-ending elevator ride when finally the plane leveled up and another announcement was given.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the Captain has turned off the 'fasten seatbelt' sign, and you may now move around the cabin. However, we always recommend keeping your seat belt fastened while you're seated. In a few moments, the flight attendants will pass around the cabin to offer you hot or cold drinks and dinner, light meals, or snacks. Please sit back, relax, and enjoy the flight. Thank you."

Camilla eased up her shoulders, turned on her phone, plugged in her earphones, and sent a long message to her aunt detailing how she almost missed her flight. Her phone vibrates and expectedly, she received a reprimand. Though it was written, she felt as if she were hearing rather than reading it. Her aunt was unable to accompany her due to work obligations. She smiled wryly at the thought of leaving her aunt; she already missed her. Looking out the window, she notices the faint lights below, which fade into the darkness like a night light from afar. She then felt sleepiness creep in and slowly dozed off once again.

She was awakened less than an hour later, the turbulence rocking her out of her slumber. The flight attendants had buckled up as the shaking became more intense. She couldn't see anything from outside this time. She could only grip the armrest, hoping it was just a minor aircraft malfunction.

She isn't afraid of flying, but she felt it when she saw the panic in everyone's eyes.

Suddenly the plane jerked so hard, that the cargo compartment knocked over and the luggage was strewn everywhere. Camilla’s eyes were fully widened when she saw the engine light up, the fire growing bigger by the minute as the plane fell freely from the sky.

At this point, the cabin is filled with terrified shrieks and cries from both the passengers and the crew. But Camilla could hear none of that, everything happened too fast she had lost all her thoughts, all she could feel now was her heart beating steadily despite her ragged breathing. 

A bolt of light flashed through her eyes, blinding her. Darkness turned white, and for a brief moment, she thought she had died.

*****

Hours later in Rio Mar, Valentina Alfaro's eyes were glued to the news being reported on TV.

"... Puerto Rico continues to search for the missing Silverlaire plane feared to have crashed into the sea. The flight SA073 carrying 172 passengers and 6 crews bound for Orlando, Florida reportedly lost contact at 9:20 pm Saturday..."

She broke down at once, the little information she'd heard was enough to knock the breath out of her. She did not doubt that it was the same plane her niece had flown to. It was so hard to breathe and she couldn't stop the tears from flowing; she had tried to call her several times over the past few hours hoping she'd get through. It was unlike her not to at least send her a text saying she'd arrived.

Camilla and her aunt Valentina had been together for 17 years. They had been through a lot ever since her parents dropped her off at her house in Rio Mar, and promised to come back for her, she was six years old.

On every occasion, she'd receive letters and gifts from places her parents had worked, and she'd respond with her shapes and scribbles. The letters and gifts stopped coming gradually, and her aunt tried everything she could to contact them, but to no avail. She had reported them missing. Local officers in Lisbon, Portugal, where the last letter was received, searched, but found nothing. The apartment building at the address had been vacant for several years, and no one in the neighborhood had ever heard of the couple's names. She could only wait and try her hardest to raise Camilla alone, imitating the letters and gifts they would have sent her.

This had been going on for years and finally, word came from the police that they might have a clue of their whereabouts. She hurriedly contacted the station and was told that Camilla's father began working on an orange farm in Florida a year ago and is likely still working there. The profile is severely lacking, with no clear photo or contact information, which made her skeptical. But it matches his name, age, and year of birth.

‘If it were them then why didn't they at least try to connect with us and know how their daughter's doing? The state is just a three-hour flight from here, so why?’ she reasoned.

There was no record of her sister-in-law, Camilla's mother. They were only able to extract the information about her older brother when the Company that owned the farm had submitted a list of their workers in their data, and one of the officers simply found the match in an online directory.

  The report only raised more questions. Valentina was getting more and more worried and couldn't even figure out how to tell her then 14-year-old niece, and the young girl had been curious about her parents. She decided to tell her the truth after dinner, or at least a part of it.

"Camilla, come over here please." She strode over cheerfully and sat next to her aunt on the sofa. "Yes, tia?" she asked.

"I know you've been wondering where your Mami and Papi are. The last letter you received from them was a year ago when they were still in Lisbon..."

Valentina unfolded a fading photograph of a couple, their features obscured, "I, too, haven't received any emails or texts since then, but today I got word from the station that they located your father's name in a list of workers in Florida."

You might be getting more than just presents this year, but if they wouldn't make it... know that everything they do is for you," they said as they hugged and whispered soothing words into each other's ears. "I'm not sure if it's him, but somehow I'm hoping it's them, and that they'd chosen to work there so they could be  closer to us."

"I understand Tia, as long as Mami and Papi are fine, I'm ok with just the letters and stuff. Even if they couldn't make it again this year, I'd send them my love through emails. Besides, Christmas with you and uncle John is always fun!" She giggled.

Valentina smiled and hid her sigh. She only meant to lie to her once before, but over the years it piled up. 

She was asked to take care of her brother and his wife's baby when they unexpectedly appeared at her front door years ago. Those first few weeks were difficult for them both. Camilla would wake up crying nearly every night and she would coax her back to sleep and it takes a hell lot of effort to do, sometimes she ended up sleeping in her niece's room. The only reason she didn't say anything before is that she was given a hefty compensation and that they had promised to return for her in a year, which she thought wasn't a big deal.

But now that it came to this, she'd do everything just to keep her happy, for as long as she could. She'd never want to see any kind of sadness in those beautiful eyes of her beloved niece again.

As for Camilla, she was quite despondent for a while but didn't show it. Her aunt supported her in every way, making her join clubs at school, have extra lessons, and take her to places such as parks, shows, and fairs. Valentina thought she would have less time to miss her parents by keeping her busy. Camilla eventually grew up and learned to be independent. Unsurprisingly, she misses them no more. Perhaps, this is just how it would be when parents are away from their children for far too long.

Camilla's happy life now was all thanks to her unyielding nature and of course, her aunt's efforts with her. And Uncle Joe, her aunt's best friend, visits from time to time. These two people are very dear to her, maybe even more so than her parents.

More years had gone, however, there was still no sign of Camilla's parents. The lack of interest from the authorities in the matter and the delayed investigation made Camilla wish to go instead. Valentina felt for her niece, and out of a desire to put their minds at ease they planned to find them on their own. Together, they contributed, saving enough cash for the trip.

Valentina, unfortunately, couldn't go. She wouldn't want to blow the chance to get the promotion this month. More money means more savings, especially since her niece will be starting her advanced degree in a few months. She asked a distant relative and a few friends living near the state to accompany Camilla.

Her heart sank as she said goodbye when she drove to the airport.

"Oh come on, it's just a couple of days and she'll be back home,” she muttered to herself as she got back to her car. Not knowing it would be the last time they shared a hug.

Valentina and John were preparing dinner that night when the news flashed on TV. The plate she was holding slipped off her fingers and unto the floor—shattering. Her friend rushed in and held her as she cried her heart out, the pain in her chest unbearable.

The flight SA073 allegedly lost its signal 606 miles into the Atlantic as it disappeared from the radar. No trace was ever found of the plane, not a scrap. She had no more tears left, she wept and mourned each day and night. Her eyes were void of emotion as she gazed upon an empty grave.

They say time heals all wounds, but her heart disagrees. It had been months since the incident, yet she feels like her suffering doubles as days go by that she's not with her. Her heart ached even more when she remembered the last words she had sent, scolding her for almost missing the flight. Although she knew Camilla would just take it as teasing from her, she had truly wished she missed that flight and for once she blamed Camilla's parents for her niece's misfortune; but this is just to console herself a bit. All that's left for her to do is pray and hope that she's in a better place.