The next few days went by in agonizing anticipation, as I awaited my call from Madam Torrens.

I had trouble settling down for longer periods of time, and resorted to walks about the neighbourhood.

Occasionally Essie joined in, and we would spend the time window-shopping or wandering the alleyways.

“You need to settle down.” Essie remarked from her perch on the couch as I paced restlessly behind her.

Pausing my gate, I shook my head.

Sometimes I didn’t even realize I was doing it.

When had I left the couch?

Muttering an apology, I glanced back at her again.

She was in the middle of some quest or other in her current video game, and I had initially settled in to watch and lend my suggestions.

Slowly, I circled back around and plonked myself down again, giving a silent sigh.

“Mate, you are a certified wreck.” Essie said, and I looked over, still feeling rather dazed.

“I’m sorry?” I asked, and Essie sighed and paused the game to fully face me.

“What happened during that last test?” she asked, and I blinked.

“Er, I’m not sure I understand–” I began but Essie cut me off.

“You were a sheet when you got home!” she exclaimed. “I was genuinely worried you’d collapse on the spot!”

We sat in silence for some time, simply looking at each other while my mind struggled to comprehend what was going on.

In the end Essie gave a deep sigh, and got off the couch.

“Look, I’m just worried, alright?” she said. “If you won’t talk to me, then find someone else. Your airline has a therapist, I’m sure.”

“Essie…” I had trouble finding the right words.

“Just promise me you’ll take care of yourself, okay? It hurts to see you like this.”

She seemed genuinely distraught, and I couldn’t help a wan smile.

“Of course.” I replied. “I didn’t mean to worry you.”

Essie gave a smile of her own, however strained, and then left the room.

I sunk back in the couch with a heavy sigh.

Truth be told, things had been a bit more strenuous since that incident with the simulator, though I did my utmost to deny it.

But the awful experience had snuck its way into my subconscious and woven into my dreams.

On more than one occasion I had started awake in the middle of the night, having just relived those final moments of that fateful flight, however with the far more disastrous ending I had experienced in the simulation.

I was aware of how bad this was, but continued to insist to myself that it was only temporary.

That it would pass, once those memories faded from my mind.

Deep down, though, I knew full well that Essie was right, and I should seek professional help before it was too late.

This was exactly the sort of issue Mr. Faire had warned me about not keeping to myself.

I just… I wanted to wait a little longer. To be sure it wouldn’t pass on its own.

A shriek jolted me out of my thoughts, and I bolted up from the couch.

“Essie?” I called and went to look for her. “Essie, talk to me. What’s happened?”

“I-it’s, er, nothing!” she called back and I pinpointed her voice to the kitchen, and went to look.

She sat crouched before our rubbish cupboard, face frozen in and expression of shock.

“What’s wrong?” I asked and went over to look for myself.

“It-it’s fine!” Essie exclaimed. “Just… unexpected is all. Fetch me a bread bag please?”

I stepped back and went to find one from our packing supplies drawer.

“But what is it?” I asked, handing it to her.

“It’s just a mouse. A dead one.” Essie replied, wrapping the bag over her hand and reaching into the cupboard to pick something up.

Her hand retreated with a little, brown, furry form, and she wrapped the bag back around it.

“Poor thing…” she remarked, and I nodded in agreement.

Living in an old building, we would occasionally have experiences with mice or other pests, but never to the point where it became an issue.

Sometimes we’d discover dead ones and had to dispose of them in whatever fashion seemed appropriate.

She plopped the poor little creature into the bin and pulled out the rubbish bag.

“I’ll just throw this out…” she muttered, and I stepped aside to let her pass.

As she exited the apartment, I glanced around, and noticed she’d been preparing tea for us.

So I picked up where she left off, putting on the kettle and grabbing mugs and all that went with.

As I placed them on a tray to bring to the living room, the door in the hall opened.

“Hey, Avery.” Essie called out. “I’ve got this fellow here claiming to know you?”

Frowning softly, I stepped out into the hall.

Who on earth could that be?

But when I looked over, I felt my heart jolt in a pleasant way.

On the landing behind Essie stood a tall and lanky, somewhat ill at ease-looking Fynn Glade.

“Oh, Fynn!” I exclaimed, passing him a warm smile. “What a pleasant surprise! How are you doing?”

Passing the tea tray onto Essie I swapped places with her in the doorway, and Fynn turned his hazel eyes to me.

“I, er… was in the neighbourhood and thought I’d stop by.” He explained awkwardly.

“Hope I’m not intruding…”

“Not at all, Fynn.” I stepped aside to let him in. “Do come inside! We’ve just prepared some tea.”

Fynn on his end lingered for a moment longer, before stepping through the door.

“I see you’ve met my roommate, Essie.” I said, gesturing towards her.

Fynn gave a meek nod and ducked his head.

“She caught me lingering at your door like an idiot.” He muttered.

“Oh, don’t mind her.” I laughed. “She can be brash, but she means well.”

“I’m right over here, you know.” Essie remarked and I turned and grinned at her.

“Come off it, Essie. You know it’s true, and I love you anyway.”

Then, nodding towards the living room, I continued.

“Well, let’s not stand around in the entry like muppets! We’ve got a perfectly usable living room!”

The three of us filed inside, and Essie went about setting the coffee table for tea, when I realized.

“Oh. We’ll need another cup.” I said, and left for the kitchen again. “Try not to scare off our guest while I’m gone.”

I turned and winked at Essie.

While in the kitchen, I did catch the sounds of conversation drifting through, but couldn’t sort out the words.

At the very least they weren’t awkwardly waiting around for me to return.

“So! Here we are. Do find a seat, Fynn.” I said, placing out the final mug and nodding pleasantly at Fynn who’d remained standing.

“Er, thank you.” He said, lowering himself onto a pouf we kept around for convenience. “And thanks for the tea.”

“Not at all!” I replied. “So, how have you been, lately?”

“Oh, alright, alright…” Fynn replied airily. “I got back to work last week.”

He glanced at me carefully.

“I spotted you at the airport the other day.” He said. “Er, does that mean you’ve finished your examination?”

“Ah.” I said, sipping my tea quickly. “No. not yet. I’m still waiting for the verdict.”

Just the thought of that last simulation made it run cold down my spine, and I fumbled and almost dropped my mug.

“They did their last test this Monday.” Essie chimed in, and I felt my heart jolt in my chest.

Essie continued.

“If they don’t receive full approval and a medal, I’d be very surprised.”

She smiled.

To my surprise, Fynn smiled too, sipping his tea.

“Honestly, me too.” He said, and I felt my face flush.

He continued.

“Have you flown with them before?”

“Just once.” Replied Essie. “I don’t get around much, but Avery offered me a little weekend getaway on their work hours.”

She laughed.

“It involved a lot of flying and airports, but it was fun.”

“And you?” she then went on, and I felt my heart go ice cold. But then she caught herself.

“Oh, wait. I recall Avey said you met recently, right?”

At this Fynn passed me a curious glance and I felt somewhat ill at ease. I hadn’t meant to disclose private information without his consent.

But then he seemed to let it pass.

“Oh, yes.” He said. “In fact, I was a flight attendant at the one that went down in Wales.”

“That’s what they told me!” Essie exclaimed. “Must have been a terrifying experience.”

Fynn passed me another glance.

“It was… not as bad as I’d feared.” He muttered in reply, and Essie gave a nervous laugh.

“You’re both far braver than me.” She said. “I’m sure I’d be freaking out tenfold, if I was caught up in that stuff!”

I smiled and sipped my tea.

“And that’s why you work in media and not in the aviation industry!” I replied and Essie laughed again.

“This is true.” She said.

Across from us, Fynn passed her a curious look.

“What sort of work do you do?” he asked.

Essie placed her tea down and shrugged.

“Mostly editing or revising.” She said. “I’ve got a handful of clients I do regular work for and take a handful of jobs on the side, when I’ve got time. It’s never boring, but can get infuriating sometimes.”

“Have you seen the new crisp commercial?” I asked and Fynn gave a brief nod.

I smiled.

“That was Essie.” I said.

“Please.” Essie scoffed. “I only gave some pointers and did the editing. Stop acting like I singlehandedly scripted, shot and finished that.”

Ignoring her complaint, I continued.

“She’s also a tech-whizz.” I said. “If it’s broken, ten out of ten times she’ll find a fix for it. Even if that fix is ‘get a new one’.”

“Stop it!” Essie punched my arm, and I laughed.

“But seriously, though.” I said. “If you’ve got computer issues, send it to her and she’ll have it sorted in no time.”

As we bantered, Fynn had remained silent, but with a faint smile on his face.

“You two seem very close.” He said, and Essie grinned.

“Well, we’ve been friends since lower sixth and lived together for, like ten years! We’re bound to get along sometimes.”

I rolled my eyes.

“You haven’t seen us on a bad day.” I said, and Essie shoved me again.

“Oh, please. Like we’ve got any of those.”

“The perks of being easy-going I suppose.” I replied. “At any rate, it’s always great to expand our little circle of friends. I’m glad the two of you get along. Perhaps we can meet up more often?”

“Sure.” Essie said. “Do you like games, Fynn? There’s a great barcade not far from here.”

“Oh. Yes, I’ve been there a few times.” Fynn replied. “They had a tournament going a few weekends back, right?”

“Right! Street Fighter. I was there.”

The two of them sunk into a conversation about favourite games and consoles and I took a moment to sit back and just listen.

While I enjoyed games from time to time, I was not as passionate as Essie, or – I came to realize – Fynn.

“Oh! Why don’t we play a game together!” Essie exclaimed, picking up her controller.

“Sure.” I replied. “What kind?”

“Like StarRacers or something. I’m in the mood for some action.”

As she scrolled through her games, I shifted over on the couch to give Fynn some room.

“Fine by me.” I said. “As long as we can do the jet level.”

Essie shot a glare at me.

“Oh, come off it, Ave! You’re gonna leave us in the dust!”

I grinned.

“That’s the point!” I said, searching out a second and third controller from a box below the table.

“Besides, we can do other levels too. I just want to do the jet level as well.”

Essie begrudgingly agreed to my terms while she continued her search for the game.

“Have you played before?” I asked Fynn, handing him a controller as he sat down between us.

“Yes. A little bit.” He replied.

I smiled.

“Then there’s no need for introductions, at least.” I said, and Fynn gave a smile of his own.

“I think I’ve got it.”

We decided to leave my pick, the jet level, for somewhere in the middle and started with a classic car race.

Turned out Fynn’s ‘played a little bit’ might have been a blatant lie.

He crushed both Essie and me in most of the rounds we played, and while it could have been beginner’s luck, I got the feeling he might have had some experience, judging by the techniques he used.

It wasn’t long before Essie grew tired of losing and moved onto a different type of race.

In the middle of this my phone began ringing.

“You two go on.” I said and exited the room.

“Hello?”

“Captain, it’s Amelia Torrens.”

“Yes. Hello.” I replied.

“We have revised the results of your exam and are ready to make a desicion.” She informed me.

“You’ll be summoned for a final hearing at ten on the fifteenth.”

In three days, then…

“Thank you, I’ll be there.” I said, and she bid me farewell.

Only three days more.

I could do this.

As I entered back into the living room, I realized that Essie and Fynn had started the jet level without me.

“You absolute..!” I began in mock-anger. “Traitors. The whole two of you.”

Feigning irritation, I slumped into the couch and folded my arms.

Essie laughed and paused the game.

“Who was that, then?” she asked, and I dropped the act.

“Madam Torrens, from AHSAE.” I replied, and she and Fynn exchanged a glance.

“And?” Essie asked.

“The verdict will be read at ten in three days.” I told them. “I don’t suppose you could give me a lift?”

“In three days..?” Essie checked her phone. “I can’t, sorry, Ave. I’ve got a meeting then.”

I smiled.

“No worries. I’ll catch a bus, then.”

I picked my controller back up, ready to resume the game, when Fynn piped up.

“I could give you a ride.” He said hesitantly, and I looked over.

“That’s kind, but I don’t want to be a bother.”

Fynn hurried to shake his head.

“It’s not a bother.” He said. “I’ll come around at nine, maybe?”

“Sure.” I said. “Thanks Fynn, you’re an angel.”

We played on until nightfall, before Fynn announced it might be time for him to leave.

“Thanks again for the tea. I’ve had a lot of fun.” He told me as I saw him off in the doorway.

I smiled.

“Feel free to drop by whenever.” I said.

That night I slept better than I had in a long time.