Choices by E.A. Briginshaw

Author:E.A. Briginshaw
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ernest A. Briginshaw

Chapter 7:

The Sounds of Silence

Judy just stared at me. Several times it looked like she was about to say something, but then decided not to. I wondered what she was thinking, but I was too afraid to ask, so I just sat there as well.

Up on stage, the Paul Simon lookalike was joined by someone who looked like Art Garfunkel. I knew it wasn’t really Simon & Garfunkel, but they looked close enough to fool anyone from a distance. When they started to sing, their voices were so similar to the real duo, they could have fooled anyone.

Judy and I both turned our attention to the performers, mostly to avoid the awkward silence between us. Judy glanced over at me as they finished up “Bridge Over Troubled Waters” but I pretended not to notice. I knew I had hurt her and I could feel my eyes start to water. I put on the special glasses so she wouldn’t be able to see the tears that were forming.

Suddenly, the duo on stage weren’t just Simon & Garfunkel impersonators, but seemed to transform into the real performers. The crowd grew silent waiting for their next tune. The spotlight focused on Paul Simon as he stepped up to the microphone.

“Hello darkness, my old friend…”

Suddenly I was transported back to the airport where I was supposed to meet Judy. Except I wasn’t in the airport. I was sitting on a bench outside the terminal trying to decide what to do. I had my ticket and my passport in my hand and I was surrounded by three large suitcases which I had carefully placed around me like a wall.

I glanced at my watch. Two hours until departure. I knew Judy would be inside wondering where the hell I was. But I just sat there, as if my butt had been glued to the seat.

I had no idea why I was so scared. I just knew that I was. I knew I had to make a choice. I had to get up and either board that plane with Judy or go inside and explain to her why I wasn’t going. But I just sat there.

Another glance at my watch. It was now one hour until departure. They would now be making an announcement that all passengers should have cleared security and be at the departure gate. Judy would now be in full panic mode. Where was I? Had I been detained at security because there was some problem with my work visa? Had I gotten in an accident on my way to the airport?

She wouldn’t know that I was still sitting outside the airport with all my papers in order. There hadn’t been an accident. I was just frozen in fear.

I sat there until I was sure that the plane had taken off. It was only then that I took down my wall of suitcases, threw them in the trunk of the taxi, and headed home.

When I got home, I could see the red light flashing on my answering machine.

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