I've Been Flying for 24 Hours

We hit turbulence and I nearly spilled my drink. “Sorry about that!” I yelped, grabbing for my glass as I frantically searched for a napkin to wipe the spill. The woman sitting next to me reached out and gently took the napkin from my hand. “Here, let me help you,” she said. She was kind and pretty, with a warm smile. “You okay?” she asked. I nodded. “Yeah, I’m sorry. I’m just really tired.” I was trying to keep my eyes open, but my eyelids began to droop again. The woman’s kindness and compassion reminded me of my wife. I smiled weakly. “Thanks,” I said. “No problem, I’m glad I could help.” She smiled back. “I’m Karen.” “I’m Mark.” We chatted quietly for a while until Karen dozed off. I sat there in silence, looking at my watch every few minutes. I had to be home by now. Hadn’t I? “Excuse me,” I said to Karen, “but do you know where the bathroom is?” I asked, standing up from my seat. “It’s down that way,” she said, pointing down the aisle. “First door on your right.” I smiled and nodded, making my way to the bathroom. When I opened the door, I was surprised to find a long corridor stretching out behind it, lined with several stalls and a lone sink. I stepped inside and closed the door behind me. As I splashed water on my face, a thought ran through my mind. Had I ever actually boarded the plane? Had I ever left my home? I looked down at my hands in front of the mirror. They were pale, and my nails needed a trim. I was tired and drowsy, and my mind was foggy from lack of sleep, but something wasn’t quite right. I turned to exit the bathroom, but when I pulled on the door handle, I found that it wouldn’t open. I tried pulling again, and then again, but the door wouldn’t budge. I was trapped. “Hello? Is anyone there?” I called out, my voice muffled by the door. The woman sitting next to me was asleep when I left, and there were no other people in the bathroom. I tried pulling on the door handle again, but it still wouldn’t open. I knocked on the door, calling out for someone to let me out, but no one replied. I walked over to one of the stalls and pounded on it with my fists, calling out for someone to let me out. I knocked and pounded for what felt like hours until I collapsed from exhaustion, hugging my knees against my chest in a fetal position. I don’t know how long I sat there for, but eventually, I must have dozed off, because when I woke up, the bathroom was dark. The only light came from the glowing buttons of the sink’s faucet. “Hello?” I called out into the darkness. “Is anyone there?” I stood up from my position in the corner of the bathroom and began to search the bathroom. I looked at each stall, but none of them had any handles or knobs. The only light came from the glowing faucet. I stumbled through the bathroom, knocking on each of the stalls. When I knocked on the last one, a voice called back. “Hello?” a man’s voice said. “Yes!” I replied. “Are you okay in there?” he asked. “Yes, I think so. But I don’t know where I am, or how I got here,” I replied. “Do you know where the door is?” “Unfortunately, no,” he said. “I don’t know what to do,” I admitted. “I’ve been sitting in here for what feels like hours. Do you think they forgot about me?” “No, I don’t think that’s possible,” he said. “Why not?” “I think they’re trying to kill you.” I sat in shock for a few moments, processing his words. “Are you kidding me?” I asked. “No. I’m not.” I sat there in silence, unsure what to say or do. I was tired, scared, and confused. I just wanted to go home. I wanted to see my wife. I wanted to hold my daughter in my arms and smell her hair. “What do you mean?” I asked, trying to keep my voice calm. “They’re keeping you here because you’re...you,” the man replied. “You don’t remember, do you?” “Remember what?” I asked. “You’re me.” “I’m what?” “You’re me,” the man said. “You’re me.” I stared at the wall in front of me, confused and lost. I had to go home. Hadn’t I?

I've Been Flying for 24 Hours

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