Autistic Love

For K.

Who made me believe that the most enthralling love tales are the ones almost unheard of to man.

"When you find the perfect black man to marry, you'll know." her mother said. "But, Momma," Melissa questioned. "What if I don't wanna marry a black man?" She was only five, but her quest for answers seemed never ending. Her mother looked away. "You just have to." She tossed her thick black braid over her shoulder. "That's just the way the world works these days, sweetie. Now go run off to bed. It's getting late."

CHAPTER ONE:

Melissa drove around the airport looking for a parking space. The slots all seemed to be filled. She let her head fall on her horn. Of all the places she had gone to, this had to be the most frustrating. How could she possibly get from Arlington to New York in time? Melissa was ready to leave when she saw it.
A whole array of parking spaces were empty. How had she missed it? In her struggle to find a space the cars had cleared out. Melissa thanked the Lord and chose one closest to the building.
The inside of the airport was like nothing she had seen before. It had wide shining support beams that didn't look like they were about to break. The floors were the cleanest white tile. Almost like milk. Melissa had spent most of her childhood in Houston, where buildings crumbled and sagged. Not being familiar with this loud yet small city, no one could have prepared her for what she saw: what looked like a whole city of people walked around the airport. Some children running and being scolded by their parents. Melissa's vision swam. She put a hand to her head. How am I going to make it through today? She thought. This was more than she had ever anticipated, and it was too much for her eyes.
You have to do this. She told herself. Yousigned up for this and that's what you're going to do. You vowed to help others. Now you have to do it. Without even meaning to, she pulled herself together, boarded her flight, and watched the town of Arlington minimize from her window.