Chapter 20 - Seat 1A, ForeverA month later, Flight 217 prepared for its departure from Geneva back to Boston.
The winter snow fell softly outside the large double-pane window of seat 1A.
Thirteen-year-old Eliza Monroe sat comfortably by the window, her navy cardigan wrapped warmly around her, her French violin stowed safely in the overhead compartment.
Across the aisle in seat 1B sat Celeste Monroe, relaxing with a cup of hot tea and reviewing her investment portfolio on her laptop.
Purser Julian walked down the aisle, holding two small porcelain trays. "Good evening, Madame Monroe. Good evening, Miss Monroe. Welcome home."
"Thank you, Julian," Celeste smiled warmly.
Eliza looked out the window as the Boeing 777 taxied smoothly onto the runway, its powerful engines spooling up into a steady, comforting roar. The aircraft lifted off into the snowy twilight, banking gracefully toward the western horizon.
Eliza looked down at her tray table, where her boarding pass sat quietly:
MONROE / ELIZA MS
May you like
FLIGHT 217 — SEAT 1A
She smiled, closed her eyes, and leaned back against the headrest as the jet carried her smoothly above the clouds, soaring free and high into the endless sky.
