Seventeen Steps.

One... Two... Three... Four,

My footsteps were slow, picking up pace as I walked down the hallway, the grey walls seeming to stretch on forever.

Five... Six... Seven... Eight,

My palms were sweaty, and the one holding onto my carry-on bag was slipping on the handle, the wheels squeaking faintly.

Nine... Ten... Eleven... Twelve,

My eyes roamed the waiting people, and my heart started to thud faster when I saw she wasn't in attendance. My footsteps slowed as the knot of excitement in my stomach faded.

Thirteen... Fourteen... Fifteen... Sixteen,

My eyes slipped to the floor and I shouldered my way past people.
“Mark!”

Seventeen.

I stopped, and turned, my eyes locking with hers. A smile spread across my face.
A moment later she was in my arms. I had dropped my bag, and I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her closer to me. I buried my face in her neck and we swayed, her on her tip-toes.

We met for a kiss, and she pulled away, smiling, looking into my eyes. “I've missed you,” she whispered, pulling me back down into a hug, forcing me to bend to her height. I kissed her again.

“I've missed you too.”