Adelaide Literary Magazine - 10 years, 79 issues, and over 3000 published poems, short stories, and essays

THE PLANE RIDE

ALM No.77, June 2025

SHORT STORIES

Marie Edwards

6/7/20254 min read

While Nolan boarded the flight home, he took a glance at his boarding pass and groaned “this is not my day.”

When he saw where his seat was located “Why does it have to be a middle seat” he groaned again as he to put his bag in the overhead compartment.

Shoving the small bag into the compartment much as he could, till a flight attendant helped him. He got into his seat not knowing who he was going to be sitting next to him on this twelve-hour flight, while reaching for his headphones he could hear some familiar voices.

His head snapped up he looked to see where the voices came from, and sure enough it was Nolan’s ex brothers in laws, he sank in his seat trying not to be noticed but it was too late he was spotted.

“Oh, shit look who it is Riku!” Raziel mocking exclaimed looking back to his older brother who is slowly walking in his direction.

Riku who had finally reached his brother, perplexed he looks in the direction of which his brother was looking “well look who it is Nolan Haynes” Riku said sharply.

Nolan looking up at the brothers nervously and spoke.

“Hello Riku and Raziel” the brothers looked at their tickets and smiled, Nolan sinks further into his seat as he thought to himself, please don’t let these be their seats.

Raziel smiling like the cheshire cat had taken over him turns to his brother “this is going to be a fun flight” looking at his brother while he was putting his bag in the overhead. Riku looked at his brother and says nothing he just sits in seat next to the window while Raziel took his seat on the other side.

“This is going to be fun trip” Riku snickered looking at his brother, while squishing Nolan between them, Nolan uncomfortable in his seat not wanting to deal with his ex-wife’s brothers they were not on the best of terms after he had cheated on their sister, “why me? “Nolan groaned as the plane started to take off his hands shanking with fear, uncomfortable in his seat the brothers looked at the nervous ex-brother-in-law.

“Hey Nolan?” Riku asked coldly.

Nolan almost jumped out of his seat as he was trembling with his response “yes Riku?”

Riku adjusting himself in his seat so he can see Nolan’s face “why did you do it Nolan?”

Nolan shaking from the tension as sweat poured down from his brow replied, “what are you talking about?”

Raziel shoots a piercing glare at Nolan saying nothing, he picks his head up and looks at his brother waiting to see what he was going to say next.

“What do you mean what are you talking about?” he responded angerly

Nolan shaking more in his seat trying to avoid his gaze “if you’re talking about your sister, it was ok—”

Raziel suddenly cuts him off “Who the hell are you lying to Nolan!” he grabbed him by the nape of his neck “you hurt our sister she was in a lot of pain because of you.”

Riku watching his brother intently to see what he was going to do next, Raziel still having ahold of Nolan’s neck still pissed off.

“Please let me go!” Nolan shifted trying get out of his grip.

“If you don’t quit your Damm moving I will throw your ass off this plane” Raziel annoying responded.

Nolan started to flare his arms trying to you get out of Raziel’s grip “let go of me we are on a plane there’s not much room to move” he exclaimed

“You’re making it worse the more you flare around like that he is going tighten his grip” Riku said while he shrugged.

“Just tell us why you’re suddenly leavening to go back home after you broke our sister heart you cheated on her if anyone should leave it should be her.” Razel started to tighten his grip more and more around Nolans neck while he made his point.

Nolan finally stopped moving long enough to tell his side of the story “ok yes I cheated on your sister, yes, I used her—”

Razel tightens his grip more on his neck, Nolan stiffens his body from Raziel’s grip as he continued to speak.

I did all that to her and I feel terrible, for doing that to her but I was not in love with her I was in love with Azrael we were high school sweethearts she was my world but our family did not approve of us being together so when I moved from Japan to Odelia I had forgotten her and when I met your sister she reminded me of her.

When we started our marriage, I knew I had to just push through it, when I went to our usual coffee spot to get our morning coffee and chi tea I had caught a glimpse of a familiar face, her face is what I saw and sure enough it was her the love of my life and that’s why I did it.

The young men staired at him still having ahold of him, knowing he was lying he was good at that Riku broke the long silence “you used our sister because she reminded you of your first love” annoyed he rubbed his eyes he shot a quick glance at Razel he tightened his grip on Nolans neck.

Nolan squirmed in Raziel’s grip and started to panic “hey wait a minute I thought if I told you the truth you would let me go, all I wanted to do was go home and do some thinking” in the mist of the struggle the pain came to a sudden jolt the three of the young men looked around as they heard the pilot voice came through the speakers

“Ladies and gentlemen, we have reached our destination!” everyone got their bags and stepped off the plane.