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Chapter 7
In winter, I explored the Alps. By year’s end, I was named Air France’s Employee of the Year and became the Head Flight Attendant for all of Paris aviation.
During this time, both French locals and other expatriates pursued me romantically, but I didn’t entertain any of them. A wounded heart may heal, but it always leaves scars. For me, my career
came first.
For a long time after, this remained my routine, day after day, while Thaddeus continued his – standing outside my door all night whenever he was in París. It seemed this pattern would continue
definitely.
Then, suddenly, Thaddeus stopped appearing at my door. For the next two years, I heard nothing
about him.
Until my third year in France, when the company assigned me to rotate back to the States. Three years ago, I would have refused this assignment, despite the offered promotion and benefits. But after these three years, my heart had fully healed. So I gladly accepted the arrangement.
The day before returning, I messaged my former colleague and best friend Jenny. “I’m coming back tomorrow. How’s Manager Davidson and everyone?”
Jenny was ecstatic, chatting with me for three hours straight, wishing I could fly back that very
moment.
The next day, my plane landed. Jenny rushed to meet me, along with my former supervisor and several colleagues. Three years had left its mark on each of them. But when they saw me, they were surprised. These three years of living for myself hadn’t aged me – I looked younger than ever.
It was only after landing that I learned why Thaddeus had suddenly disappeared in my second gear in France. After I left, he had ended his mentorship with Scarlett. In his second year of flying th Paris route, he encountered another flight incident during a return trip. The left wing caught fire, forcing a belly landing. All passengers landed safely, but he injured his right leg, ending his career as
a pilot.
Sometimes I think it was just fate. The only two incidents in his flying career both happened on the París route. While I reached the peak of my career in Paris.
Jenny had never mentioned this in our messages, fearing I hadn’t moved on. She only told me after I returned. Learning this, I asked which department he worked in now. Jenny thought I wanted to rekindle things, but I just smiled silently. She told me he worked in air traffic control, managing
Unspoken Farewell at 30,000 Feet
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flight routes.
Lasked Jenny to take my luggage to her place and walked alone to the control tower. This airport was so familiar. Yet walking through it alone now felt different.
He must have heard about my return. When I reached the tower entrance, Thaddeus was already waiting, holding roses, his former sharp demeanor notably softened. Seeing me, he grew excited. I could tell he hadn’t moved on.
I just smiled. “Keep the flowers. After two years, I just wanted to properly say goodbye.”
With that, I turned and left. I knew that from this moment, I had truly been reborn.
nny’s words left me deep in reflection. I knew that life was always full of unexpected turns.
The incident in Paris five years ago seemed to be more than just a professional accident, more like a turning point destiny had arranged for me. I thought my life had ended then, but unexpectedly, it
was a completely new beginning.
Returning to the United States, I decided to start over. No longer would I be the waiting, submissive
woman, but someone who could live for herself. I knew the road ahead might not be smooth, but this time, I would be the master of my own destiny.
My pilot career taught me one thing: even when encountering turbulence and bumps, as long as you
maintain the right direction, you’ll ultimately reach your ideal destination. Sometimes life is like this, where an unexpected moment can completely change your trajectory.
Perhaps, in a moment I least anticipated, an entirely new life journey was about to begin…
Unspoken Farowell 51 30.000 Foot
