“Earth to Move”

 The flight is about to take off. A flight attendant is going through the end of the safety instructions. This is silent. There are two people sitting in 14a and 14c. They don’t know each other. 14a is flipping through a magazine and 14c is visibly anxious/nervous. The seats are set up in three/three pattern.

14a: (to 14c) Lucky we don’t have anyone in between us.

There’s an awkward pause and 14a continues to lean over to chat. 14c closes their eyes and starts to breath deeply.

14a: Are you okay?

14c: I’m just “stuck inside my head.”

14a: Well sometimes I find that talking on planes helps relieve anxiety and passes the time.

14c: I’m pretty sure listening to music has the same affect.

14c is fiddling with their headphones, but there’s a tangle (these are definitely not air buds.)

14a: What do you like to listen to? I keep hearing one of those “[songs] you can’t forget.” It pops up at the most inconvenient times. Like during business meetings. 

There’s a pause.

14a: Hey, “don’t be so uptight.” I just want to help. You look super nervous and I assume it’s because you’re flying. My sister had to take Dramamine all the time when we were growing up. She never flies anymore though... I’ll leave you alone.

14a leans back toward the window and 14c puts their earbuds in. Lights dim in the cabin to show the passing of time. After a minute the lights go back up.

14c takes out the earbuds and sees that 14a is reading a magazine.

14c: Hi. What are you reading about?

14a: Oh, hey. Are you feeling better?

14c: Yes, thank you. Sorry for freaking on you earlier. I “feel so crazy.”

14a: “Right?” It happens to all of us. At least there hasn’t been turbulence today.

Right as 14a says that, there is a lot of turbulence. The fasten seatbelt sign goes on and a flight attendant comes on. 14c grabs on to the armrests for dear life. Everything overhead is shaking and it seems louder than it should be.

Flight attendant: Please fasten your seatbelts. We’re experiencing stronger than normal turbulence. Nothing to worry about, but safety first.

14a: Look like I jinxed that. Not sure why, but “it’s you that I wanna” help in these circumstances. Try taking deep breaths and count slowly.

14c: (breathing deeply) “One….two….three…four…”

14a: It’ll be okay. You got this. Keep breathing and counting.