Fear Of Flying

Can love conquer everything – even a lifelong phobia? Caroline was about to find out…

- Susan Sarapuk

Caroline didn’t like flying, but she had the feeling that this trip to New York could be special; that maybe after two years together Chris might be about to propose.

She could feel her heart rate accelerate as the plane taxied. She marked the buildings as they passed by, knowing that soon they would still be anchored to the ground and she would be unsupported in the sky. Her mouth went dry as the plane came to a stop before the engines began their deep rumbling and the plane began to pick up speed.

Normally she’d be clutching the arms of her seat but this time, as the plane gradually rose into the sky, Caroline felt her heart take off too. This trip was going to be different; love made her heart soar.

FLIGHT

Seven hours on a plane could be tiresome. She watched a film for a while, drank iced water, read a book. The flight attendants were attentive, knowing that flying made her feel nervous. She tried not to think about the 36,000 feet of thin air between her and the ground, or the fear that the engines might suddenly cut out.IL

“Just think of what’s waiting in New York,” she told herself.