SYD Flight Layover
Seventeen Hours Ago

6:12 AM

"I hate you," she whispered, jaw clenched as the tear-drenched letter drifted away in the harbor. She didn't run after it. Instead, she watched it disappear into the horizon. She didn't need to hold on to something that no longer existed.

What a splendid start she'd had. He left her for good while she was thousands of miles away. He'd cowardly emailed her his breakup letter, hours before the clock struck twelve on New Year's Eve. And she was an idiot for reading it a few hours before her flight back to Dubai. Did he really think she wouldn't have the time to check her mail?

She hardly slept a wink, her eyes swollen. How was she going to face everyone looking like this?

The rare summer winds had stopped, but as her striking raven-black hair waltzed recklessly as she ran, her emotions continued to sway. The voice in her head was driving her to lunacy, her heart to emotional suicide. She had to slow down her pace to rest her shaky knees. The pain that's causing her was unbearable. She had to do something fast before it destroyed her.

But how does one close a story that was never meant to end? How does one pause a love sonata in mid-piece and not expect a disgruntled audience?

As she sat on the steps of the opera house, Veronica Ramos looked at the faint orange streaks in the sky. The sun was breaking out of the clouds and a fleet of birds soared in a beautiful formation.

Painful tears escaped from the corners of her blue-green eyes. Although a long distance away from where it all began, the backdrop reminded her so much of their first sunrise together. This seemed like the perfect time to compose a letter to him. No pen and paper required. Just her heart and the stinging ink that came with it.

It didn't matter how she'd say it. She would send him a letter through the harbor waters, hopefully reaching the shores of Chesapeake Bay. This was the only way. Because she was never going to see him. Ever again.

This will be her own version of a break-up letter. Distant and final.

She got on her feet, refusing to give in to this unwavering force that had earlier fought to give her an embrace. As the wind blew once again, she looked up at the bright sky, praying for a miracle. Suddenly, her phone rang.

TJ Smith is calling...

Her old friend was calling from New York, and something in her urged her to answer the phone. Before swiping to answer, she blew a big exhale and stretched her worn cheeks with a smile.

"Hey!" she gave out her most abnormal normal tone.

"Hey, am I disturbing you?" The signal was clear, his voice sounding like an angel.

"No, I'm good," she pressed her fingers on her eyelids to stop any more tears from flowing.

"Where are you?"

"In Sydney. We're a few hours ahead of you guys. Fifteen hours, I think."

"You're kidding. So I'm talking to someone from the future?"

"Yes, you are," she gave out a mild chuckle.

"Well, Happy New Year! How was the celebration?"

"Great company, beautiful fireworks in the harbor." At least, she didn't lie.

"Wonderful!"

"And how's everyone?"

"The ball hasn't dropped in Time Square, but her water broke, and the baby's out," TJ revealed.

"TJ, I'm so happy for you. You're a father!"

Her fingertips could no longer stop the stubborn tears from flowing. But this time, they were tears of joy.

"I had to call you first. My daughter, Paris, was born six hours ago."

"Paris is a precious name! I can't wait to meet her," she wept silently, but her face was glowing with happiness. "Everything's good? How's Francine?"

"Both mother and daughter are doing well, thanks."

"You have no idea how this call is making me feel right now, Teej. Thank you. The new year just started, and already, this is hands down the best news I've heard! You'll have to send me photos, like right now!" she laughed, wiping the endless flow of tears on her cheeks.

The circle of life was in play; one life ended, another is born.

"Well, enough of the chit-chat. Go enjoy your two girls. And send my love to Francine," her voice croaked.

As soon as the call ended, she took one last look at the harbor. Her letter had left with the waves. She trusted the water to deliver her message to him for she would no longer look back again. Veronica turned around and ran as fast as her legs could carry her—back to the hotel and back to the life she knew so well. As she attempted to blend in with passersby, a sudden dark cloud of emptiness trailed behind her. It was then that she realized she was about to take with her the heaviest luggage a flight attendant could ever carry in her life. 

https://youtu.be/mqiH0ZSkM9I

This chapter has been edited. New paragraphs were added, old comments displaced but could still be found below. A few paragraphs with Philippe in it have been moved to a new chapter, 2. Sydney to Dubai.

Thank you for delving into the first chapter of my first book on Wattpad. The journey of Veronica Ramos has just begun and I'm very excited to have you on board!

If you like this chapter, please remember to vote and comment. I would love to hear from you!

And to my lovelies who'd already completed Love, Ethan, I would just like to inform you that I had made major changes to this book: I have dragged my previous first chapter down to the final chapters of this book. I've contemplated long and hard on this. I hope you will like the new changes.

I would like to thank you for coming back to read the new first chapter.

I also would like to thank you for your understanding, bits of advice, comments, and continued support. Let me know what your thoughts are on this (without giving spoilers, of course, lol)!

Wishing you a swell day!

Lots of hugs,