Demanding Training
From running miles to overcoming obstacles, Janice was always up for a challenge. Even though she was tough, the training was intense and exhausting.
While Janice was in tip-top shape, Janice’s body was constantly being pushed to the limits. She was always sunburned, her muscles constantly ached, and just the thought of lifting her gear made her back hurt. She had no idea her next challenge was coming.
Going Home
Just a few hours before her scheduled flight home, Janice finished all of her preparations besides packing her bag. Despite looking forward to being reunited with her friends and family, she wasn’t looking forward to the long flight ahead.
Even though Janice wasn’t a nervous flyer, she didn’t particularly enjoy it, and this flight was longer than the ones she was used to. It was about to be the most memorable flight of her life.
Long Flight
Between the cramped seats, lack of legroom, and subpar in-flight meals, Janice couldn’t wait for the flight to be over and to be home at last. Even though she had access to all of the amenities, her seat at the back of the plane wasn’t ideal. Just waiting in line to get there would take forever and waiting to deboard would take even longer.
The Airport
Just getting to the airport was a nightmare. From grabbing her luggage and calling a cab to checking her bags, everything was taking much longer than Janice anticipated. Since she reached the checked baggage weight limit, she had no choice but to carry her gear as hand luggage.
Waiting for Eternity
Janice made sure to arrive early to allow for any unexpected situations, and the wait to board felt like forever. She was distracted checking her watch every few minutes, which made her completely oblivious to what happening around her.
While she was waiting to board, someone was watching her every move. This person would put a dent in her plans to go home and be reunited with her loved ones.
Boarding Call
Finally, the boarding call came and Janice quickly rose from her seat. She tried to be the first in line, but she wasn’t fast enough—many other passengers beat her there. At least the line was moving, even if it was slower than she liked.
Janice watched as each person had their passport checked before they got onto the plane. She was so focused on getting on the aircraft that she wasn’t aware of what the other passengers were doing.
Taking Her Seat
As Janice made her way on the plane, she longingly looked at the business class section. The chairs looked so cozy and Janice wished she was sitting in one of them. She hoped to one day experience this luxury.
The Way Back
Janice’s seat was in the back. And not just in the back, but all the way in the back with just a few seats between her and the flight attendants. Janice was sat in the last window seat on the plane.
Strange Looks
While waiting to get to her seat, Janice felt a lot of eyes on her. The people who were already seated were staring at her. They were investigating her, and she couldn’t figure out why they were looking at her. The other passengers even started whispering as if they had a secret.
She couldn’t help but think they were talking about her. But that wasn’t the only thing that felt off to Janice.
Military Uniform
Janice gave herself a quick look and she realized why they were looking at her—she was wearing her military uniform. That’s when everything started making sense.
Finally Seated
After what seemed like waiting forever for people to make their way to their seats and stow away their hand luggage, Janice finally got to hers. She opened the overhead compartment to store her gear and she sat down in her seat.
Experiencing Delays
But the plane still wasn’t taking off and Janice’s patience was being tested. She looked at her watch yet again. Clearly, there was a delay—the flight was supposed to lift off 10 minutes prior.
The Cause
Knowing that bad weather was usually the reason for delays, she looked out the window. But it was a beautiful day outside. The sky was clear and there weren’t any clouds in sight.
Image is for illustration purposes only: Photo by Waldemar on Unsplash
Still hoping for answers, Janice looked to the aisle to see if passengers were coming onto the plane. But there was no movement and all of the seats were filled. The soldier had no idea she was the reason behind the delay.
The Cause
Knowing that bad weather was usually the reason for delays, she looked out the window. But it was a beautiful day outside. The sky was clear and there weren’t any clouds in sight.
Image is for illustration purposes only: Photo by Waldemar on Unsplash
Still hoping for answers, Janice looked to the aisle to see if passengers were coming onto the plane. But there was no movement and all of the seats were filled. The soldier had no idea she was the reason behind the delay.
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