"Ladies and gentlemen, Flight 216 to Sydney is now boarding group A." Today was the day. No matter what your reason for being on that plane, Flight 216 would be your home for the nest 20+ hours. It was an incredibly long flight, even for those who flew regularly. If you paid close attention, the nervous flyers would be spotted immediately. The husband trying to calm his wife. The girl with a lime green scrunchie who's leg couldn't keep from moving. The young man with an unmistakable Midwestern accent rambling to his friends. There were a lot of emotions, nerves and excitement, sadness and fear, happiness. All Trapped under the same airport terminal. "Group B for Flight 216 now boarding." Some people here we're going home. Others were on a once in a life time adventure. And still some, may be running from something. Their past, family, or they were just simply looking to get away. Everyone had a story.
Unbeknownst to the passengers and crew of 216, this would be the last flight some of them took. The last grand adventure. Those stories would have an unhappy ending. "Group C for flight 216 now boarding." It they had known, without a doubt this group of strangers would have canceled their flights and headed home. You would have too. But of course, if there were any clairvoyants in the crowd, they kept their mouths firmly shut as the passengers boarded flight 216. They would get settled into their seats, and soon after the final boarding call, Flight 216 would take off.
For a while, everything seemed perfectly normal. The unfortunate people in the middle seats complaining about the leg room or squished between two people who were most likely going to be snoring the entire time. The unaccompanied minor was getting a little extra attention from the flight attendants, making sure to keep the kid company, and a few of the passengers would be caught up in mostly unwanted conversation. But they were stuck on that flight for a long while...might as well make the most of it.