Into the Aether_Part One(5)

A moment passed, and then the red-haired woman asked, “What happened to your friend Jordan after you left?”

Aaron looked out the window. “I guess he went home. I thanked him for what he did, but it felt, well, hollow. How do you really thank someone for saving your life? I distanced myself from anything reminding me of that time, even Jordan. I did hear from him about a year ago.” He turned from the window to see her looking directly at him. He let out a small laugh. “I'm sorry, I'm sure you don't want a stranger reciting their life story to you.”

“Please, continue,” she replied. “What did he say?”

“Jordan wanted me to join this new company he had gotten involved with, some private security firm that also had an IT division. He explained that he was good friends with the owner of the company. Jordan then offered me a job doing the exact same thing as I was doing in Afghanistan, only stateside.” Aaron cleared his throat. “I'll admit, when he told me the salary, I was tempted. Very tempted. Ultimately, I told him no and that I was teaching high school now. He was persistent, though, and I eventually told him I just wasn't interested in that life, regardless of the salary or locale.”

The red-haired woman sat back in her seat. She seemed to be considering what he had said. “Did he ever call you back?” she asked.

“No,” said Aaron. The two sat in silence as the wheels of the plane touched solid ground, causing the plane to shake. The brakes engaged and Aaron’s body was thrust from the seat, restrained only by his seatbelt. The aircraft slowed and parked in front of the terminal. Aaron uttered a silent prayer.

“My name is August,” the woman said, offering her hand. He gently grasped it.

“Aaron. Aaron Alcott. So, now that you know my life story,” he said, “what were you doing in Indiana?”

“I was there on business.”

“Yeah, you mentioned that. What kind of business are you in?”

“I manage a brokerage company.”

“Well, that sounds interesting,” he replied, trying to disguise how dull that sounded.

“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you again for flying Express Airlines. You may now disembark,” the captain stated.

Aaron stood up and stretched his legs. August also stood up and reached for the overhead compartment. She pulled down a small duffle bag and slung it over her shoulder. Putting her hands on the seats on either side of her, she walked toward the door. Aaron reached up, grabbed his small suitcase, and followed her.

They walked together from the plane to the terminal via the air bridge, August gingerly running her hand along the handrail.

“So, how long have you been in that business?” he asked as they made their way into the main terminal.

“I just recently accepted the position,” she replied. She looked toward him, reached into the left side of her blazer, and pulled out a folded white stick. With a gentle flick of her wrist, it extended in front of her.

Taken aback, Aaron recounted her mannerisms from the plane.

“Is anything the matter?” she asked.

“No, I didn’t realize you were blind.” Why did I say that? he thought.

“Is that a problem?”

“No, not at all! It’s great, you don’t have to see how bad I look today.” Aaron smacked himself on the forehead. A wisp of a smile appeared on her face.

“I heard that.”

Of course you did. “That’s great that you’ve gotten this position!” he said, in an obvious attempt to change the subject. The smile on her face faded. “You don't like the new job?”

“There are a lot more responsibilities with the position.”

“Oh? Like what?”

August let out a small sigh. “It requires me to work with individuals who are very settled in their ways. Even now, I feel I must prove myself to them.”

Aaron looked at her with raised eyebrows. “Did you know about all of this before you took on the job?”

“I did.”

“Then why did you accept it?”

August continued walking through the terminal, her white stick extended in front of her, tapping on the ground. Aaron was pretty sure this was an awkward conversation for her.

“It was an opportunity I could not ignore,” she replied in a matter-of-fact tone.

“August, you make it sound as if you had no choice,” he said.

She didn't respond.

The two stepped onto the moving sidewalk. Beige walls and carpets whizzed past them as they headed toward a sign for customs.

They stepped off the moving sidewalk and walked through the carpeted hallway for some time before stepping onto an escalator. Aaron was starting to feel uncomfortable. Had he spoiled the conversation?

“You said you are a high school teacher now?” August asked.

“Yes.”

“That is an interesting career change,” she stated, looking toward Aaron as they both walked forward.

“Yes, it was. The communications company I told you about? It’s my father's company,” Aaron said, now the one speaking matter-of-factly.

“And he had you go to Afghanistan?” she asked with a curious expression.

“My parents always wanted children, but were never able to conceive. So they adopted me. My adoptive mother died shortly after, and my relationship with my father, which was always strained, became much worse,” Aaron replied coldly. August’s warm arm wrapped around his and the tension in his chest faded. “After leaving my father’s company, I decided to do something I’ve always wanted to do: teach. I haven’t spoken with him for almost five years.”