Prologue
Neri Pov (the narrator)
“Alex! Be fast, we are going to miss our flight!” Alex’s mom called out urgently.
First, let’s get to know who Alex is. Alex is... well, Alex. He’s super handsome, 16, sweet, kind, and loved by everyone. At school, many girls crush on him, but he acts unaware. Maybe because they’re not his type, or maybe he will never find his type. I said maybe, so let’s find out.
One crucial detail: Alex is in love with his birthday gift, Vale. Vale is his cherished violin, gifted to him on his 13th birthday by his grandpa, who was an instrumentalist. I say “was” because he’s dead now. Since Alex was ten, he’s been passionate about the violin, and he’s also a great singer.
“Mom! Can I take Vale along with us? Please?” Alex asked, looking into his mother’s eyes, his voice tinged with desperation. “Please...”
“Alex dear, we are going on a trip. We need family time together. You always take that thing you call Vale everywhere. Can you please give her... I mean, Vale, a break?” she replied, pecking his forehead.
“Dad, please explain to Mom. I love Vale, and she is family.
“A violin?” his mom and dad replied in shock.
“Mom, Dad, you know Grandpa trusted me with his valuable instrument,” Alex pleaded, giving them a hopeful grin. Their hearts melted at the mention of “Grandpa.” Alex’s mom’s eyes turned red, but she wiped the tears before anyone could see.
“Mom, are you crying?” Alex asked, and his father turned to look at her face.
“No, I’m not. You are driving me nuts, and we are getting late.”
“Fine, you can take her,” his mom and dad replied simultaneously, and they all laughed. Alex grabbed Vale and ran to the car to wait for his parents. He was their only child.
They finally got to the airport and boarded their flight.
But this trip was about to change everything. What lay ahead for Alex, Vale, and his family? Stay tuned to find out.
[Alex’s Pov]
I had my headset on, gazing out of the plane window. Below, I saw vast forests, endless seas, and sprawling oceans. It was breath-taking, making me feel like I could leap from the plane and embrace nature itself.
Note, guys, I’m not afraid of planes or flights because I’ve been flying since I was born.
*Neri: Please, can you stop bragging and start the story already?
Okay, fine, Neri. Where was I? Just as I was fantasizing about flying, the plane suddenly lurched downward. “Really, I never wanted to fly down like this,” I muttered, pulling off my headphones.
Panic surged through the cabin as a shrill voice announced, “Due to unfavourable weather, I’m sorry, but this plane is about to CRASH.”
My heart pounded as fear gripped me. I glanced over and saw my mom sobbing, her face a mask of terror. The plane flipped upside down, then righted itself again. Everyone was screaming and crying. I regretted that fleeting wish with every fibre of my being. My mom’s arms wrapped around me tightly, my head resting on her lap.
“Mom, are we all gonna die?” I asked, looking into her tear-filled eyes.
My dad, pale and shocked, quickly replied, “No, darling, we’re all going to live. Everything will be alright,” though his voice wavered with uncertainty. I was terrified.
“But the lady said the plane is going to crash!” I exclaimed.
“It’s not, darling,” my mom insisted, wiping her tears. The voice came over the intercom again, and this time my dad unfastened his seatbelt and stood up. My fear intensified. “Where is Dad going?” I asked.
“He’ll be back,” Mom assured me, but her voice was strained. The pilot was fighting to control the plane, but the situation was dire. I made up my mind to prepare for the worst. I got up from my mom’s lap, kissed Vale, held her tightly, and closed my eyes.
“Oh God, am I going to die like this? I’m just 16. Lord, may your will be done,” I whispered.
Minutes felt like hours.
“Alex!” my dad called urgently, snapping me back to reality. He held a parachute in his hand. “Come,” he instructed. I unfastened my seatbelt and moved closer to him.
“Dad, where’s yours? And Mom’s? Didn’t you get parachutes for yourselves?” I asked, tears streaming down my face. For the first time, I saw my dad cry. My fear peaked, and I burst into tears, my questions unanswered.
He wiped my tears and hugged me fiercely. Mom unfastened her seatbelt and joined the embrace. We clung to each other, knowing the grim reality. I knew we might all die. The other passengers watched in horror, their tears mingling with ours. Dad was about to strap the parachute on me when the plane shook violently. A part of the broken plane crashed through the window. Chaos erupted. Dad was thrown across the cabin, landing hard on the floor. The passengers, secured by their seatbelts, screamed as Mom, Dad, and I were tossed around, hitting the plane’s edges.
The pilot fought desperately to stabilize the plane. My parents and I landed hard on the floor again. Dad, clutching the parachute, ran to me and hurriedly secured it. Then, just as he finished, BOOM
Alex
Vale
