In the following few days I was caught up in a turbulence of medical examinations and visits from colleagues and survivors alike, wanting to express their gratitude.

Before long, my hospital room resembled a flowershop from all the bouquets I’d been given.

It was all very sweet, though overwhelming at the same time. I could never quite figure out what to say in response, and eventually settled for a meagre ‘just doing my job’ and a coquette smile.

It was easier with my fellow crewmembers, as not only did I know them, they knew better than to claim that miracle landing was a result of my actions only.

“But the fact that everyone survived was all your doing.” Maria pointed out when she and Sal stopped by for a visit.

“I can’t imagine what would’ve happened if you hadn’t taken that final trip through the plane.”

Sal nodded, but said nothing and shrank back in her seat.

“Sal.” I said, and she passed me a fleeting glance, most unlike her self-assertive demeanour.

“I understand how you may feel…” I began, and it was as though I had smashed through a dam.

“I should have seen him!” she exclaimed, wrapping her arms tightly around herself.

“I should have checked more thoroughly! I should have made sure he was safe.”

“Sal, Darling…” I reached a hand out. “It was chaos in there, and you were preoccupied with the passengers! Besides, this is why we each check the plane individually. To pick up on what someone else might have missed! Sal. You got everyone else out safe and sound. You can’t let one oversight render the rest of your diligent work null and void. That’s not how it works.”

Beside me Maria was nodding vigorously.

“Nobody blames you, Sal. So please, don’t be so hard on yourself!”

Sighing, Sal wiped the tears from her eyes.

“I can’t look the poor kid in the eye!” she muttered.

“If it’s any consolation he’s told me he’d like to continue working as a flight attendant with us.” I noted, tilting my head and passing a smile.

“At the very least we haven’t completely deterred him from setting foot on a plane!

Fynn is stronger than he looks, Sal.” I went on, reaching over to pat her hand.

“But I do think the best course of action would be to speak with him as soon as possible and have the matter resolved sooner rather than later. I’m sure he’ll understand, and it would make things less awkward down the line, if you get assigned to the same flight again in the future.”

“Of course, of course.” Sal murmured, re-comopsing herself and giving a brave smile.

“It’s all just such a harrowing ordeal! I’ve never been through a plane crash! Have you?”

She passed us both a fearful glance. Maria shook her head, and so did I.

“Not of that caliber, no.” I replied. “Thank goodness it does not happen often.”

“Truly.” Sal sighed. “In all my thirty years…”

She got to her feet.

“Well. I should head over and pay young Fynn a visit.” She said, and Maria got up as well.

“I’ll join you, if you like.” She chimed in and it seemed Sal appreciated the offer.

The two exited my room chatting idly between each other.

I laid back in my bed, but before I got the chance to relax, there was another visitor at my door.

“Captain Marlowe.” I inadvertently straightened back up as the senior captain entered my room. He seemed a tad more fragile than I had come to know him. Wearier and more drawn, his face seemed to have aged half a decade in just a few days.

“Please.” He sunk down in a chair with a sigh. “Call me Harold. There’s no need for formalites.”

He passed a faint smile.

“Harold, then. How are you feeling?” I looked him over once more. His face was ashen, his eyes dark and sunken. That flight must have really done a number on him.

“I’ve been better, I’ll admit…” he replied. “Whatever was in the air that night seemed to have spurred on a hitherto unknown asthmatic condition in me. It’s been hell ever since.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. Will you still be able to fly?”

Shaking his head, he gave a hollow grin.

“I’ve handed in my resignation.” He said and my heart gave a little jolt. “Don’t feel bad. It was my time. I’ve done my job for many years, and I’m proud to be able to end it at a relative high note.”

“You will surely be missed.” I noted, giving a nod in respect, and he turned a little pink around the ears as he gave a shaky laugh.

It would seem the good Captain Harold Marlowe was about as bad at taking compliments as myself.

“And how about you?” he then went on. “I heard the news. Of course I did. How are you holding up, Avery?”

I gave a quick tilt of my head.

“Well enough.” I replied, absently sliding a hand across the patches covering my left eye. “Whether or not the damage is permanent is still too early to say, or so I’m told. Just gotta keep my hopes up until everything’s said and done.”

“I’ll put in a good word on my end, and I know GBA will do the same.” Marlowe assured me.

“Losing not just one but two competent pilots due to the same event would be an awful shame after all.”

“They’d still have Maria, though.” I shot in. “She’ll make an excellent captain, I’d wager. Hopefully someday soon.”

“Word on the street is, the company are looking into raising her rank after this event.”

We chatted back and forth for a little while longer, until our meeting was cut short by yet another medical examination on my end.

“Don’t be a stranger, Captain.” I told him as he left.

Later on in the week, I was visited by a representant of the Aviation Health and Safety Administration of Europe. AHSAE for short, though it’s a mouthful either way.

“My name is Amelia Torrens.” She greeted me as she stepped up to the bed.

I gave a weary smile.

“An apt name, if you don’t mind my saying.” I replied and she gave a quick smile.

“Thank you, Captain Rhyse. I do hope my presence here won’t find you too uncomfortable.”

“Not at all, Ma’am. It’s all part of the investigation after all.”

Though I did my best to appear unbothered, beneath the surface my heart was hammering. Good thing they had removed the heart monitor a day prior.

“Please, feel free to ask me whatever you like.”

She sat down on the chair by my bed and flipped open the folder she’d been carrying in her arms.

“Well…” she muttered scanning through the contents within. “According to these medical records, you sustained the most injuries out of everyone involved, including, I am sad to say damage to both hearing and sight on your left side, am I right?”

She looked over the rim of her glasses at me.

“That is correct Ma’am.” I replied, doing what I could to not let my voice waver.

“The hospital is still conducting some tests, and until they are finished it is hard to say whether or not the damage is permanent.” She continued, flipping through her pages. A soft furrow formed on her brow, and she looked back up.

“If this had happened before you received your credentials, there is no doubt you would have had to discard your dreams of becoming a pilot.” She gave a compassionate smile at this before continuing.

“However, as it stands, we have reviewed your flight-records through your employment with GBA, and from all we can tell, you are an outstanding pilot. Excellent at both operating a plane and communicating with the crew around you. From all the information we have reviewed, it would be nothing other than cruel to strip you of your wings given the stunt you just pulled off. The aviation industry relies on people like you. It would be a shame to have to lose you.”

I could do nothing but nod along. I felt an impending ‘but’ was being set up.

“That being said, however.” Amelia went on. “It is not up to me, or the agency alone to determine whether or not to let you continue flying, as I’m sure you understand. You will have to undergo some strict tests to determine your ability to fly. If you pass, I am happy to say you’ll be allowed to continue in your job without issue. Failing, though, would result in the opposite outcome, but let’s worry about that if it gets to it.”

At this she passed me a reassuring smile.

“I have high hopes for you, Captain Rhyse. From all I have read, you belong in the air.”

“Thank you ma’am. That is very kind of you.”

“It’s all fact, Captain.” She replied. “Now. About the incident itself. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?”

“Of course not, go right ahead.” I replied, strangely relieved that we were moving onto another topic.

“I only hope I’ll be able to relay you something worthwhile.”

Smiling, madame Torrens flipped open a notepad.

“Relax, Captain, this isn’t a pop quiz. You won’t be judged by how well you do.

So…” she continued, meeting my eye.

“You were abord this flight as a passenger, correct?”

“Correct, Ma’am. I had flown in from Paris the evening before and had a few hours to rest and recuperate before flying back to Heathrow on the flight in question.”

Nodding idly along, madame Torrens jotted my answer down on her pad.

“This was a fully booked flight, am I right? Not a single empty seat?”

“Yes, Ma’am. I was initially meant to take the Jump seat within the cockpit for the flight, but a sudden cancellation opened up a seat in economy class.”

“Do you recall the seat number?” she asked, and I took a moment to think.

“Er, yes, I believe so…” I gave her the number. An aisle seat around the middle of the plane.

“I see, and what was it that caused you to switch seats?”

“Honestly, Ma’am? Comfort and relaxation. It is nice not to have to sit within the cockpit when not on the clock.”

“Fair enough.” A faint smile curled on her lips as she wrote down my answer. “And, did you know the passenger, sir?”

“I’m sorry?”

“The one whose seat you were given.” Madame Torrens clarified.

“Oh. Er, no, Ma’am.” I replied. “It was simply a lucky strike on my end.”

“Was there any announcement made about this passenger and why they never showed?”

I gave a soft frown. Why so many questions about this mystery-passenger?

“I wouldn’t be able to tell, Ma’am. You might have better luck asking Captain Marlowe or First Officer Pallera, or Sal, the purser.”

“Of course, Captain Rhyse, I apologize. Let’s move onto the flight itself. Before you entered the cockpit to assist, do you recall anything out of the ordinary?”

I gave a brief summary of my observations, doing my best to recall every little detail.

It was difficult though, as my mind kept slipping.

In the end, madame Torrens flipped her pad shut, and got to her feet.

“Thank you, Captain Rhyse. I can tell you are getting tired. I’ll let you rest now.”

She passed me a professional smile in the doorway.

“If you have any further questions, I’ll be here.” I smiled wearily back.

“Indeed. Rest well, Captain.”