You can never truly fly without risk

I put my small backpack in the overhead locker. It's only a three hour journey in the air, would have taken me a day of travelling by car.

As I comfortably sit in my premium economy seat, I put my AirPods in and resume my playlist. There is immense peace listening to folk music on a plane, not sure why though.

Our commander turns up the throttle for take off. You can hear the shaking screaming through the silence. I am sitting in the corridor of the right aisle. I also give up my attempt to look at the left window after trying to find a view to see from my own. The couple next to me hold hands and lean into the view of our window. An old woman, directly next to me on the left, curves in and starts doing the sign of the cross. I can’t appreciate our take off. I lean back and chose to immerse myself solely in the vibration. I then realise there is a young man in front of me on the left aisle who also lays back with his AirPods, but with his eyes closed.

Why is it that everyone I can see transmits fear?

Yes. Things could go wrong. Fatally.

Is it possible? Yes.

Could it happen now? Yes.

When I entered the plane I took the risk then. I still chose it now.

Yet as the risk intensifies the people around me seem to not want it anymore.

It reaches a point that they can't seem to bear it by themselves.

The couple transfers insecurity to each other. The religious woman to her god. The closed eyed man tries to not even think about what is going on.

Well.

The risk was taken. And the one who took it is the same one who sits there trying to run away from it. It's not your spouse. Not your god. It's you. And it has always been you.

I ask you sincerely, do you really take risks? Have you ever truly stepped into the unknown? Accountable for whatever comes? Or do you say you do. And in doing so, play the victim if it doesn't work out.

Stay comfortable. Have certainty. And you will never surrender to the unknown.

Stay in the certain. The predictable. The expected. And you will never be free.

You will never know if the plane will land.

And this is all you need to know to truly fly.

As the plane landed, the couple loosened their grip. The religious woman thanked her god for protecting her. The young man opened his eyes.

The passengers started clapping.

I did not.

The door opened.

Only I left.

The couple will continue to hold hands. The religious woman will continue to pray for salvation. Will the seemingly wise young man chose to open his eyes?