I'm Not a Princess

Avery taps her fingers nervously against her thigh, her eyes gazing around. Her heart hammers in her chest, yearning to jump out. Butterflies keep fluttering around in her stomach and she bites her lip, wishing they would stop. Wishing she had the confidence to be brave.

A voice rings loudly in the terminable, and her head raises towards the speaker.

"Again, this is flight F27, now boarding to Los Angeles, California. Now boarding..."

It's her flight.

Standing, she glances around the crowd. She has one suitcase that has already been put on the plane, and she has her backpack with her. Reminded of that, she grasps it with both hands, hefting it onto her shoulders.

The doors have opened.

People are lined up, waiting, entering the hall.

Boarding her plane.

Taking a deep breath, she nods to herself, as if she's reminding herself that she can do this. That she needs to do this.

Swallowing, she joins the others in front of her.

In front of her is a young couple, holding hands and talking excitedly in some other language- Italian?- and wearing big smiles as they stare into each other's eyes.

Avery's heart thumps unsteadily and she bites her lip harder to keep back the tears. Quickly, she looks away and searches for something to distract herself.

Soon, it's her time. She hands over her ticket, nods, and steps forward, walking down into the little shuttle path, and finally boarding the plane. Her eyes find her seat, and she sits down. Within twenty minutes, it's obvious no one is going to be sitting in the seat beside her, so she puts her backpack there.

Her heart hammers, but now it's too late.

I'm really doing this, the thought comes to her, and a small smile slips on her lips. I'm finally going somewhere, doing something... I hope.