The terminal buzzed with the cu9rus of announcements and a thousand wanderers, each in a small world of their own. There was the laughter of families being reunited, the tears of goodbye, kisses of hearts promising to wait for one another, and the rolling of wheels of the lonely grind.

  Liara Mendoza stood near gate B17, adjusting the straps of her leather messenger bag as she glanced at her family one last time. Her mother fussed over the scarf around Liara's neck, her graying hair tied into a neat bun as petite hands continued to mess with the fabric.

  "It's a little chilly where you're going," her mother said, pulling the ends snug. "And don't forget to eat before the interview. No one gives their best answers on an empty stomach, and we all know how our pr8ncess gets when she hasn't had a snack."

  "Mom I'll be fine," Liara said with a laugh though her voice cracked a little, her fingers fidgeting with the straps of her bag. At twenty six, this was her third cross country trip in as many weeks, chasing down interviews with various medical residency directors. This one though, this was different. Her top choice, the one she had dreamed of before even her first day of pre med. The thought of walking down it's halls, of wearing her white coat with pride, made even the overcast skies outside the terminal feel like the brightest of days.

  Her father, standing tall beside the pair, placed a hand on her shoulder. "You've worked hard for this, Sprout. Remember that." His voice was steady, but there was a light sheen in h8s eye.

  "I will, Dad," she said, her voice soft and muffled as she had darted to hug the once colossal figure. "Thanks for everything."

  Her younger brother, Ethan, hovered nearby. His face not rising from his phone, pointedly not looking at Liara.

  "Don't get too high and mighty, Dr. Mendoza." He said without looking up, rubbing at his right eye with the back of his thumb. "Otherwise I got plenty of stories to keep you humble."

  Liara rolled her eyes, pulling him into a reluctant hug, and much to his chagrin, giving him a kiss on the cheek. "I'll always have time for you, doofus"

  The final boarding call echoed in the gate's speakers. Liara felt as her heart leapt. She grabbed her bag and turned to look at her family one last time. Her mother dabbed her eyes with a tissue, her father giving her a small nod.

  "I'll call you as soon as I land." She said, stepping back toward the gate. "I love you all."

  "Love you too." Her mother called out, her voice trembling.

  Liara walked down the jet bridge, the next few days could be the culmination of everything she had worked for, the start of her dream.

  The hum of engines filled the cabin, a comforting back drop that blanketed the hushed conversations between the aisles. Flight 214 was a regular red eye, passengers scattered across rows of worn seats. Each immersed in their own thoughts and stories.

  In 18C, Martin Calloeay adjusted his tie for the third time since take off. At forty six, he had spent his life climbing the corporate ladder. But this trip was different. This new position, the advancement to senior executive, was within reach. All he had to do was close one deal, one of many during his career, but again, this felt different. He glanced at his laptop, the slides glowing on the screen, the words blurring together. In his head, the whisper of his wife's words echoed. "You are doing this for us." He hoped she was right.

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  Across the aisle in 18F, Leah Drayton pressed her forehead against the cool window. The city lights below fading into the darkness, but her thoughts wandered. On her lap, she clutched a black envelope. At her twenty seven years of age, life had already taught her the heavy sting of loss. Her older brother's funeral awaited her at the other edge of the flight, but her thoughts were replaying their last argument. Over and over.

  " You are worth so much more than this." He had told her. But at least she wasn't stuck in a dead end minimum wage job. Now the words felt like shards of glass, impossible to remove.

  Further back, Marcus 'Jax' Jackson sat in 22B. He hummed, his headphones loose around his neck. At nineteen, he was headed to his first family reunion in years, the first since the divorce. He wasn't sure what to expect. Would they welcome him with open arms? Would they even remember him? He scrolled through his phone, finding old photos of play8ng with his cousins at his old backyard. A smile tugged at his lips, while his foot tapped restlessly. What if things had changed too much?

  In 24D, Esther Romero flipped through a battered paperback novel, her glasses sliding down her nose. She was headed to meet her first grandchild. Her shaking fingers lingered on the grainy photo of the baby tucked in the book. A faint smile etched on her lips, though a tear formed at the corner of her eye. She had missed so much, always too busy, always working. This trip felt like a second chance.

  At the very front of the plane sat Mila Tran, a recent college graduate. At twenty three, she was already making waves in the tech world. This was supposed to be her big break, a chance to present her prototype to one of the leading companies in the industry. But her mind kept drifting to her mother's tearful face at the airport. "Come home soon." Her mother had said. Mila hadn't replied, knowing she couldn't make that promise.

  The first jolt came as a surprise, a few drinks trembling on trays. Liara looked up, her eyes looking along the aisles. A child laughed somewhere a few rows back. The voice of the captain crackled over the intercom.

  "Ladies and gentlemen, we are entering a patch of turbulence. Please remain in your seats and keep your seat belts fastened. Nothing to worry about."

  Nothing to worry about.

  The second jolt was harder, enough to make Liara's laptop slide off her tray table. A few passengers gasped, and the murmur of voices rose, only drowned out by the shaking of the plane. She gripped the armrests, sparing a moment to tighten her seat belt. Outside, the plane's wing shuddered and trembled.

  Then the turbulence worsened.

  The plane dipped suddenly, making Liara whip her head, s3nding drinks spilling and passengers clutching at their seats. A baby began to cry, the sound sharp and piercing over the growling noise. Overhead bins rattled violently, a few bags coming loose, and the seat belt sign flickered.

  "Please remain calm!" One of the flight attendants shouted, her voice firm over the strain as she braced herself against the back of a seat.

  The lights flickered, plunging the cabin into a brief darkness that made the rattling of the fuselage all that louder. Another sharp drop sent the unsecured tray cart careening down the aisle. Gasps turned to screams as even more overhead bins burst open, spilling luggage into the aisles.

  And then the message appeared.

  Liara froze as glowing text materialized itself before her eyes. It was suspended impossibly right in the center of her vision.

  And then.

  Impact.