Page 78 of Night and Day
Chapter 29
Mia stared at the InternationalDepartures terminal, looming like a giant’s mouth, aglow with fluorescent light and digital screens, waiting to suck her into its guts. This was the moment she’d feared. Her conversation with Izzy had become more and more tense as they approached Auckland. When the first airport signs appeared, he’d clammed up altogether, staring out the window, squeezing the steering wheel like a stress toy. Whatever she’d imagined, she hadn’t accounted for this change in him.
Thinking back to their first visit to the shopping mall, Mia recognised the way his spine stiffened and his manner became short, almost robotic. He seemed absent, like he was channelling his energy into an internal struggle she had no part in. Except, this seemed worse.
She slowed down at the entrance, grabbing his hand. “Izzy. I can see you’re not feeling well. What is it?”
He looked pale, averting her eyes. “I’m not good at this. I’m sorry.”
“Good at what? Airports? Goodbyes?”
“Any of it,” he grumbled. “I told you, I don’t come here. I don’t do this.”
Sensing he was about to hyperventilate, she placed a hand on his chest. “Don’t think about it. Just focus on breathing. In and out. That’s all.”
They stood for a moment, a constant stream of people passing them in every direction. To her relief, Izzy’s breathing deepened and he met her gaze, face contorted in regret. What had she thought of, bringing him here? She’d seen him hiding in the dark corner of the mall, headphones in his ears. Headphones!
“Let’s listen to something,” she suggested, digging for her phone. “Do you have your headphones?”
Izzy started, pulling his earbuds out of his pocket. “Thank you for reminding me! I meant to give these to you, for the trip.”
“Thank you! Do you have your phone? I don’t have Spotify. Please play something. For me.” She stared him in the eye for as long as he held her gaze.Izzy, stay with me.
Izzy took out his phone, plugged in the earbuds and handed one of them to Mia. She instantly recognised the song from the cave, the one about the stars. He smiled back, albeit distractedly.
“Do you want to say goodbye here?” she asked. As much as she wanted to keep him with her, what was the point of prolonging the agony? Without any luggage, she hardly needed help to get on this flight.
Izzy’s eyes flashed with determination. “No, I’ll come with you. Make sure you’re okay.” He glanced at the sliding doors, constantly opening and closing next to them.
“You don’t have to go inside. I’ll call you if anything happens,” she said softly, placing a hand on his heart. The pounding under the surface took her by surprise.
“No. I do.” He stepped out of her reach, marching through the doors.
Mia rushed after him, holding onto her earbud as the cord snapped tight. The airport version of Izzy was freaking her out. She wanted to help him, but how?
They ventured down the hall, instantly surrounded by the echoey bustle of footsteps and conversation, punctuated by loudspeaker announcements. Airports were the opposite of caves. Bright, loud and distracting, full of people, connected to everywhere in the world.
After finding Mia’s first flight on the board, they stood in line for the check-in counter, wedged between a family with toddlers and two businessmen, the music in her ear constantly penetrated by the airport noises.
Reaching the counter, Mia removed the earbud and presented her ticket and passport. She felt naked without her luggage and launched into an explanation of what had happened. The lady nodded with mild sympathy, clicking her mouse, eyes on the screen. “So, you won’t be checking in anything?”
“I just told you—”
“Here’s your boarding pass. You should get to the gate as soon as possible. The priority passengers are already boarding.”
Mia mumbled her thankyous and turned to Izzy, alarm squeezing her windpipe. “They won’t let you through security without a boarding pass... do you want to say goodbye here?”
Izzy glared at the airline counter, pulling her further away from the swarming group of people. “I’ll see you as far as I can. Where do we go?”
