Fighting sleep, Solene began nodding off in her chair. The tension of the past few hours finally caught up with her, and her eyelids grew heavier. She resisted, though—she couldn't afford to give in. Reaching for the orange juice, she took a quick sip, hoping for a jolt of energy. It barely helped. After a fleeting second wind, the weight of the early morning pressed down again.
Her mind slipped back to the moment she heard the plane was missing. If only she could erase the panic that gripped her since then. The knot in her stomach tightened as her thoughts circled back to the terrifying possibilities. Could she have stopped him from going? Could she have prevented all of this?
Frustrated, Solene stood. It was still 40 minutes till 8 o'clock, but time felt frozen. The silence in the room was unbearable. No word about the plane. No word about Jeremy. She paced between the kitchen and the couch, her bare feet almost soundless on the cold floor. She had to stay awake. That call could come any minute.
She stopped by the window, her palms pressing against the cool windowsill. The early morning air creeping through the cracks in the frame felt damp against her skin, but she barely noticed. Outside, the sun struggled to break through the thick clouds, its light casting a dull, gray hue over everything. The silence in the house was heavy, oppressive, broken only by the occasional groan of the floorboards beneath her feet. All Solene felt was the tightness in her chest, like a hand squeezing her lungs. The air tasted stale, dry in her mouth, as if even breathing was becoming a conscious effort.
How could they not have found anything? No wreckage, no smoke? A plane couldn't just disappear! Her thoughts raced—were they wasting time? Did they not care that people were hurt? Or worse? And then... Jeremy.
36 hours later
RING, RING!
Solene jolted awake, heart hammering in her chest. The sound of her phone shattered the quiet. Blinking away sleep, she grabbed for it, her vision still blurry from exhaustion. The name on the screen made her blood run cold.
Jeremy.
Her hands shook, slick with sweat, as she gripped the phone tighter, the plastic cool and foreign against her clammy skin. Her heart pounded in her chest, so loud she could feel the pulsing beat echo in her ears, drowning out the room's silence. The phone vibrated in her palm, persistent, almost buzzing with the weight of what it might bring. For a moment, the world felt both too close and too far away, the air dense around her as if the room itself was watching, waiting.
Pick up! Just answer it!
The ringing dragged on, each one pulling her farther into panic. Finally, she pressed answer with trembling fingers. The line clicked, and her breath hitched in her throat. She whispered a silent prayer, clinging to the hope that he was still alive.
"Hello?" Solene's voice cracked, barely more than a whisper, brittle from fear. She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing herself for the answer that could change her life. The silence stretched painfully. All she could hear was her own shaky breathing, magnified as if it were on speakerphone. Her chest heaved as that familiar knot tightened in her stomach. On the other end, only the faint sounds of rustling and what might have been motors running.
"Miss, it's Sergeant Collins." The voice on the other end was clipped, careful, as if each word was chosen with deliberate precision. Solene's grip tightened on the phone, her pulse pounding in her ears. She could barely feel the cold plastic of the device; all she felt was the weight of the silence on the other end, waiting for him to speak.
"I... I'm sorry for the time that's passed."
Her breath caught in her throat. The air around her felt thick, heavy. She opened her mouth to respond, but nothing came out. The sound of her shallow breathing filled the room. Seconds stretched into what felt like hours.
"What's happening?" Her voice cracked, breaking through the tension. "Have you found them?"
A beat of silence. Then, Collins' voice came through again, lower, more measured.
"We've located the crash site."
Relief hit her in a sudden wave, but it was followed immediately by a sharper, colder feeling—the realization that finding the crash was only the beginning. She gripped the arm of the chair, her knuckles white. "Are they... Is Jeremy...?"
"But..."
The hope shriveled instantly, curling back into her chest like a dying flower. The relieved smile on her lips faltered.
"We can't get inside the plane yet."
Solene's breath caught, and the floor felt like it was slipping out from under her. She gripped the phone tighter, her knuckles aching. Her stomach twisted painfully as if bracing for impact. Eyes shut, she focused on staying upright, on not letting her body betray her fear.
"Why not?" Her voice was barely audible, but the desperation was clear. She couldn't handle this uncertainty much longer.
"The plane crashed on the side of a mountain, about 70 miles west of Bridgeport," Collins explained.
"Why can't you reach them?" Solene's voice cracked again. She was holding onto hope by the thinnest of threads, her mind spiraling with what those passengers could be going through. Tears blurred her vision, and her throat ached as she forced the words out. She pressed a handful of tissues to her face, but it did nothing to stop the hot streams running down her cheeks.
"I'm guessing you've never been to Nevada?" Collins asked, his tone softening. "The mountains here are steep. Unstable. And the crash is in a tricky spot—right above a lake. We can't risk disturbing the wreck and having it slide down into the water."
Solene was silent. She felt like her heart had shattered into tiny pieces, jagged and painful in her chest. If the crash didn't kill them... then the lake would.
"We're working on a plan to get to them safely," Collins continued, trying to offer some hope. "But the area's small and unstable. We can't risk rushing it."
"Can't you send someone in?" Solene begged, her voice breaking. "A helicopter, a drone—something?" Her tears blurred her vision, but the words kept tumbling out, almost uncontrollable. "There has to be a way."
"We could, but if we're not careful, we risk the wreckage rolling down the mountain. And then..." He let the rest hang in the air.
"How long will it take?" Solene's words came out in a rush. She was desperate for anything solid, something that could anchor her hope.
"It's hard to say," he admitted. "We need to proceed cautiously. Please, keep this between us for now. The public doesn't know about the crash site yet. We want to secure the area first before releasing any details."
Solene wiped her face, nodding absently. In an instant, Jeremy's family filled her mind—imagining their faces, their cries, maybe even screams. The thought pierced her heart, and she pushed it away. But she knew it was inevitable. Soon, she'd have to face it.
"Okay, thank you," she managed to say.
"You're welcome, Miss—"
"Solene," she interrupted, her voice steadier than she expected.
"Excuse me?" Collins asked, a little taken aback.
"My name. It's Solene."
"Oh, of course. You're welcome, Miss Solene," he replied, his tone softening. "You'll be hearing from me."
Beep, beep.
The call ended, the silence closing in around her like a heavy fog. Solene's hands trembled as she lowered the phone, her fingers clenching so tightly that the small device felt like an unbearable weight. Her arms ached, as though she had been holding up the world for too long.
For a moment, she didn't move. The stillness of the room felt suffocating, pressing in on her from all sides, as if the air had thickened and turned to stone. She tried to take a breath, but her chest tightened, her lungs struggling to expand. The cold numbness in her body made each breath shallow and cold, her throat raw and aching, like she had swallowed sand.
Her muscles, coiled tight from the stress, began to throb, exhaustion creeping into every inch of her body. The adrenaline that had surged through her minutes before was draining away, leaving her limp, as if all the life had been pulled out of her limbs. She sank deeper into the couch, her legs weak beneath her, feeling as if she were melting into the cushions.
A violent shiver ran up her spine, though the room wasn't cold. The chill settled under her skin, creeping like frost, as the weight of the news finally crashed down on her. Fear clawed at her throat, dry and sharp, choking her with its icy grip.
Her pulse hammered in her ears, but her body wouldn't move. She was frozen—trapped in the silence of the room, the overwhelming pressure of everything squeezing tighter with every second.
... ...
Ring, ring!
Solene felt the phone vibrate suddenly on her lap. She quickly turned off the television, her eyes flicking to the clock. It had been nearly six hours. Jeremy's name flashed across the screen.
Her heart pounded as she slid her thumb across the call button.
"Hello?"
"Miss Solene?" Collins' voice cut through the silence. Solene sat up a little straighter, her body tensing, every nerve on edge.
"Yes... Sergeant Collins." Her voice cracked as she spoke, barely holding together. She didn't realize she was gripping the edge of the couch so tightly, her knuckles white.
"We... we've got a plan to access the wreck."
The words hit her with a wave of relief, but it was fragile, teetering on the edge of something darker. She felt the tears spring to her eyes, hot and unbidden. Finally. It had to be good news. It had to be.
Her hand came up to her mouth, trembling as she whispered, "Thank God..."
"We've done an assessment of the survivors." Collins' voice faltered. There was a long pause. Too long. The relief that had flooded her body moments before drained away, replaced by a cold, gnawing dread.
Solene's pulse throbbed in her ears as she waited, the silence suffocating.
"Sixteen," Collins finally said, his voice heavy, like he had to force the words out. "Sixteen survivors out of seventy-eight."
The numbers didn't register at first. They hung in the air like a fog, distant and unreal.
Sixteen.
She blinked, her mind grasping at the words, trying to process them. The world around her blurred, the edges of the room fading as if she were sinking underwater. Her breath hitched, and her body felt too heavy, as though the weight of the news was pulling her down.
She didn't speak. She couldn't.
Her throat closed up, and her hands shook uncontrollably. The phone felt slippery in her grasp. She pressed her fingers to her lips, trying to stop the sobs that were building in her chest.
Jeremy.
What did this mean for him?
Her heart pounded violently, and for a moment, everything felt too bright, too sharp. Her vision blurred as tears spilled over.
She collapsed into the couch, her body limp, her mind spiraling. It was too much.
"But..." Collins' voice broke through the haze, bringing her back to the moment.
She sat up, her pulse quickening as she heard paper rustling on his end, followed by the sounds of equipment—a chorus of voices and machinery that made her feel as though she were on the edge of a battlefield. The chaos on the other end only heightened the tension, gnawing away at her nerves.
There was a long pause before Collins muttered under his breath. "I've got two driver's licenses here. One of these men didn't make it."
"What?" she gasped, the panic now clawing at her chest. Her hands began to shake uncontrollably as she gripped the phone tighter.
"Stay with me, Solene. I need you to help me identify him. Is Jeremy—uh, does he have gray eyes? Dark brown hair, 5'9", around 200 pounds?"
"Yes," Solene choked out, wiping her face. "That's him."
Collins hesitated. "That's very close to the other passenger's description. I need something more specific. Anything unique about him?"
Solene's mind raced. She chewed on the back of her finger, her nerves fraying with each second. "Umm, wait—he has these three birthmarks on the side of his neck, kind of like flat moles. They form a triangle if you connect them."
Silence followed. The seconds stretched out painfully as she strained to hear anything—Collins' breath, a word, anything. But there was nothing. Just the quiet static of the line and the low hum of distant noise on his end.
The silence gnawed at her, digging deeper into her gut. It was unbearable.
"He's... alive." Collins' voice finally broke through, steady but soft. "Jeremy Summers is alive."
Solene's heart nearly stopped. "Oh my God!" she cried, her hands shaking uncontrollably. Relief flooded her, the tears now a mix of joy and overwhelming emotion. "Thank you, oh my God, thank you."
Relief washed over Solene, overwhelming her in an instant. The tears she had held back for four days streamed down her face uncontrollably. All the fear she had been guarding against slowly lifted, but in its place came a wave of exhaustion. Her heart ached, pounding sluggishly in her chest, but a smile finally crept across her tear-soaked face.
"From what we've been told, he doesn't have any serious external injuries," Collins said. "But internal injuries are still unknown. He'll need a full medical evaluation, but he's one of our trauma patients."
The relief that had flooded Solene moments ago drained away as a cold shiver ran down her spine. Fear crept back in. "Why? What do you mean by?"
"We think he's in shock," Collins explained. "Is he usually quiet, soft-spoken?"
"No, not at all," Solene blurted, shaking her head. "Jeremy's outgoing. He talks to everyone—he's really like the loudest in the room. That's not him, Sergeant. It's not."
She fought to stand, her legs weak beneath her, and a throbbing headache began to form.
"With that in mind, it's clear he's in complete shock. That's not good for anyone, Solene," Collins said firmly. "It's crucial we get him medical attention as soon as possible."
"How long can shock last?" Her voice trembled, barely holding together.
"It's hard to say. It depends on his body, his mind. It's different for everyone," Collins replied. "But I assure you, he's one of the first we'll extract from the wreck."
Solene swallowed, her voice breaking. "Can... can you call me back? Please?"
"Of course," Collins said softly.
"One more thing—how do you have this information if you haven't entered the wreck yet?"
Collins paused for a moment, as if choosing his words carefully. "We have one of our airmen onboard. He survived and gave us a full report of the situation inside. He's tough. Resilient." His voice was steady, but there was a weight behind it, the kind that masked deeper emotions.
Solene's breath caught. "Were there... more of your men on board?"
Another pause. This one was heavier. "Yes. I lost seven good men." His voice tightened, the words coming out clipped and direct, like they were armor against something raw beneath.
"I'm so sorry," Solene whispered, pressing a hand to her chest as her knees buckled. She collapsed onto the couch, the weight of the moment sinking in.
"Thank you," Collins said, his tone still firm. "But we have to stay focused on the mission. We need to get those 16 survivors out of there. Time is running out."
"Right..." Solene sniffled, her voice barely a whisper. "I'll wait for your call."
"Take care, Miss Solene," Collins said quietly, and the call ended.
Beep, beep.
Solene set her phone down on the cushion. Jeremy was alive. Relief and uncertainty swirled inside her, but she couldn't settle on how to feel—happiness that he wasn't gone, or anxiety over his condition. The thought of what he might be going through terrified her. She longed to be by his side, to soothe him, but the distance made her feel helpless.
Her mind started spinning through the "what ifs." How was she going to do this alone? How would she take care of him if he had internal injuries? How much had this changed him? The knot in her stomach twisted sharply, rising into her chest.
She leaned forward, burying her face in her hands, trying to collect her thoughts and calm the storm of emotions. She had to remind herself—they were strong together. She knew Jeremy, and he knew her. They had always faced the worst of times as a team, and they could get through this too.
After what felt like an eternity, her mind began to clear. Twenty minutes later, a switch flipped in her brain, sharpening her focus. Determination settled over her like a protective shield. Whatever came next, she was ready. She would face it head-on and find a way through.
But there was one thing she still had to do—tell his family.
The weight of that responsibility pressed down on her shoulders, heavier than anything she had ever felt. How could she break the news to them? How could she tell them their son had been in a plane crash? Her chest tightened again, and for a moment, she considered waiting. Maybe Sergeant Collins would have more information soon. Maybe she could delay the inevitable.
No. They needed to know. They deserved to hear it from her.
Solene reached for her phone, her fingers trembling as she scrolled through her contacts. Jeremy's family. Their names appeared on the screen, a glaring reminder of what she had to do.
Her thumb hovered over the call button, frozen. She couldn't do it. Not yet.
As her mind raced through the possible outcomes of this call—Marie's gasp, James' shock, the tears—she found herself suddenly drifting back to a day that felt so far away now.
...Flashback...
The sun hung lazily in the afternoon sky as the sound of laughter echoed from the open doors of the summer house. Jeremy's family was in full swing, each person assigned an unofficial task—or in some cases, causing more chaos than help.
"Watch your toes!" Jeremy shouted, struggling to maneuver a bulky couch through the narrow front door with his dad, James. Both men were red-faced, grunting as they tried to twist the couch into a position that made sense.
"Pivot!" Solene teased from the side, leaning against the doorframe with a grin. "Just like that episode of Friends!"
"I'm pivoting!" Jeremy groaned, laughing through his frustration as his dad chuckled.
James, huffing under the weight, shot Solene a wink. "This thing's going to end up in pieces if we pivot any harder."
Meanwhile, Jeremy's mom, Marie, was busy in the kitchen, unpacking boxes of dishes and stacking them neatly on the counter. "You two better not break anything out there," she called over her shoulder, her tone light and playful. "We just got this place fixed up!"
Solene could hear Jeremy's siblings laughing in the backyard, likely making up some kind of competition over who could get the patio furniture set up the fastest. She glanced through the window and saw Jeremy's not so much older brother, Tommy, holding pieces of the outdoor table upside down while his little sister, Megan, shook her head in disbelief.
"You're going to break that!" Megan yelled, her voice teasing. "That's not even how it fits together."
"Who's the engineer here?" Tommy shot back, clearly faking confidence. Megan raised an eyebrow and continued to assemble the rocking chair.
"You definitely have a degree," Leo said. "But it's in the art of buffoonery." Tommy ended up tossing the instructions and piling on top the unsuspecting eldest brother. They both began wrestling and totally destroyed any work they got done. Megan ended up surrendering at the sight and walked away.
Solene smiled, feeling warmth spread through her. It was a mess—an exhausting, sweaty, hilarious mess—but it felt like home already. These chaotic moments with Jeremy's family made everything feel right. This summer house wasn't just a getaway; it was going to be filled with laughter, love, and memories.
Just as she was about to help with the next box, Jeremy dropped his side of the couch, causing James to stumble back a bit. "Seriously?!" James huffed, hands on his hips. "You're stronger than this!"
"Sorry, Dad, but I really need some lemonade right now," Jeremy quipped, already making his way to the kitchen.
Marie appeared with a tray of lemonade as if on cue. "Alright, break time," she said, smiling knowingly. "I know when to call it."
Everyone gathered in the living room, sweaty and tired, but smiling from ear to ear. They sipped their lemonade and surveyed the half-unpacked house.
"I love this place," Solene said softly, leaning her head against Jeremy's shoulder. He kissed the top of her head in response.
"Just wait till it's all done," he said, looking around proudly. "We're going to make a lot of great memories here."
End of Flashback
Solene's thumb hovered over the screen, shaking slightly. That memory seemed like a lifetime ago, untouched by the weight of what was coming. How had everything fallen apart from what seemed to be so quickly? She couldn't bear to think of how their laughter would turn to anguish once they heard the truth. Her mind raced, each thought tangling into the next. How was she supposed to do this? How could she say something that would shatter their world? How perfect everything had seemed that day. How close they all were, laughing together, making plans for a future full of love and joy.
She bit her lip, glancing down at their names on the screen. They didn't deserve this. Marie's warm smile flashed in her mind—so full of life, so completely unaware of the storm that was about to hit. James's fatherly kindness, the way he always reassured her that everything would work out, suddenly felt like a weight pressing on her chest.
Her hand began trembling as she imagined the pain in their voices, the questions she wouldn't have answers to. How could she do this to them? How could she possibly break their hearts like this?
Solene swallowed hard, her throat dry. They needed to know. They deserved to hear it from her—someone who loved Jeremy just as much as they did. But she hated that she was the one who had to bring them this pain.
Her thumb hovered again. What if she waited? What if there was more information soon? Maybe then, it would be easier.
No. They needed to know now. Delaying wouldn't soften the blow—it would only make things worse.
Her fingers trembled, the screen blurring slightly as tears pricked at her eyes. With a deep breath, she pressed the button, heart heavy with dread.
But then she froze.
A familiar beeping sound filled the silence. Her heart dropped into her stomach as she realized her mistake.
FaceTime.
Before Solene could even curse herself for pressing the wrong button, Jeremy's parents appeared on the screen. Her heart sank. A lump formed in her throat as their faces came into view—bright and cheerful, completely unaware of the storm about to hit them. How was she supposed to do this? How could she even begin to shatter their world?
She forced a smile, but it felt weak, fragile, like it could crumble at any moment.
"Heyyy, Solene!" they both chimed in unison, their faces lighting up with wide, welcoming smiles.
"Hi, James. Hi, Marie," she whispered, her voice trembling, her eyes already glistening with tears.
"How's our girl doing? You hanging in there?" James asked, his fatherly warmth coming through the screen as if nothing had changed.
Solene managed a nod, but the tears had already begun to fall, rolling down her cheeks uncontrollably. God, she loved them. They weren't just Jeremy's parents—they were her new family too. They had embraced her fully, making her feel at home when she had moved to California, far from her own family. The weight of her words felt like a stone in her chest. Once spoken, they would crack open the perfect world they believed still existed—forever changing everything
"What's wrong, Sweetie?" Marie asked, concern creeping into her voice as she held onto James's arm.
"Well, obviously she misses our boy," James interjected kindly, still unaware of the weight Solene was carrying. "Which is fine. Normal."
"Oh, sweetheart, he hasn't called you either?" Marie asked sympathetically. "I'm so sorry, I'm sure he's just busy settling in."
"Yeah, don't worry about it," James added, smiling warmly. "The first few days are always tough—getting used to a new place, adjusting to the routine. But you two are solid. You'll be fine."
Solene couldn't hold it in any longer. She pressed a hand to her mouth, stifling a sob. Her heart was breaking right in front of them, and they had no idea. The worst part was how much they reminded her of Jeremy—the way they smiled, the warmth in their eyes. It was unbearable.
"Solene, what's wrong?" Marie asked again, her concern deepening. She leaned in closer, her voice softening with motherly worry. "Sweetie, what is it?"
Solene could barely breathe. The words were lodged in her throat, heavy and suffocating. She glanced down at her hands, trembling in her lap, before forcing herself to look back up at their faces. How could she say this? She could wait a little longer. Maybe Sergeant Collins would call back with more information—something to make this easier. But no, waiting wouldn't change the truth. They needed to hear it from her, not from the news or some faceless voice. She owed them that.
"I—I need to tell you something," she began, but the words felt like broken glass in her throat. How could she possibly explain what she knew? How could she say the words that would tear their world apart? The faces staring back at her—so full of love, of trust—would change forever once she spoke. She swallowed hard, her heart tightening in her chest, but her voice barely managed to escape.
James's brow furrowed, and he exchanged a quick glance with Marie, the warmth fading from his eyes. He tugged at his sleeves nervously, sensing the shift. "Hey, you guys—come in here for a minute," he called out to someone off-screen.
Solene sat in silence, her heart racing as she tried to steady her breath. She wiped at her face with a napkin, trying to regain control of herself, but she knew there was no way to soften what was coming.
Jeremy's siblings entered the frame, their voices filling the room with lightness, completely unaware of the growing tension.
"Hey, Solene!"
"What's up!"
"Hey, Sol!"
She forced a wave, her hands shaking. She felt like she was unraveling, the weight of the news pressing down on her chest. Her breath caught, and she closed her eyes for a moment, trying to summon the courage she needed.
Marie's voice brought her back. "Sweetie, you wanted to tell us something?"
Solene nodded, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. She felt the tears welling up again, and she fought them back, knowing she had to say it.
"I—I got a call," she began, her voice trembling. She swallowed hard, her heart pounding in her chest. "From someone... about Jeremy..."
And then, she stopped. Her throat felt dry, and her heart pounded in her chest. They were waiting, unaware that their world was about to shift. This was the moment. Their world was about to change forever, and it would be by her hand. Solene's throat tightened, her lips parted, but the words refused to come. How could she destroy everything with just one breath? Solene knew, this terrible pause, was the last before everything broke apart. And she would be the one to break it.
...Till the Next Chapter...
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