Impact

Rei walked down the aisle as she had done most days for the past 15 years of being a stewardess. She contemplated her job and the events leading up to it every time she walked down the thin strip of carpet between the packed seats, the nicer business-class area and the luxury compartments in the first-class cabins. Why had she chosen to work as a stewardess of all things? Her one love in life, flying, was ironically the thing that kept her grounded in this reality. She had no real friends, no contact to her family and no support from her co-workers. Sometimes she would stare out of the windows and wonder what would happen if she was to suddenly disappear into the blue void and never be seen again. She hated her job, hated her colleagues, hated her inner voice asking if it was really worth it. What is the point in flying if it is done only for others?

Rei walked down the aisle toward the first-class cabin to start giving out the lunches; everybody looked around at the sound but soon returned to their phones and screens. The first set of people she reached was a young couple and their daughter, who looked to be about 6 years old. They were all wearing nice clothes, but they had clearly underestimated how hot their destination was going to be. Nobody can wear a jumpsuit when the temperature is over 30 degrees C, regardless of how rich or gorgeous you are. She smiled sweetly and asked what they would like to eat and drink from the trolley. The man asked for a BLT sandwich and an orange juice, the woman wanted a ham and cheese and a bottle of water and the child wanted a bacon buttie and a strawberry milkshake. Rei reached for the people's food one item at a time. When she gave the girl her milkshake, she let go before the child had properly grabbed it and it rolled to the back of the compartment. The girl started to cry so Rei immediately let go of the trolley and reached for the drink, which she handed back to the girl and profusely apologised for the inconvenience whilst the parents looked at her in contempt. When she turned back to the trolley, she saw that it had rolled some distance back into a business-class passenger who was complaining that it had trapped his leg, although it was clear that he was just trying to cause a ruckus. Rei once again apologised and retrieved the trolley with a degree of embarrasment, but then the man said that he would make a complaint to the higher-ups. She didn't respond, but on the inside she was wilting. That would be the third complaint about her that month.

As she left the aeroplane with the rest of the cabin crew, the chief steward roughly pulled her aside and said "Look, you are a useless, clumsy bitch and if we get one more complaint about you we're letting you go, understand?" She quietly muttered affirmation and left for her next flight.

Once more, she found herself staring at the blue outside the porthole window and she wondered what she would do if she was fired. She had no life outside the company, no family or friends to go to for help. Would she have to go on the streets as a prostitute to avoid homelessness and bankrupcy? She would never fly again, that would be for sure. This crushing reality hit her like a freight train.

She walked over to the emergency exit and grabbed the handle firmly with both hands. She wrenched it open and threw herself out.

Her favourite memories were of flying. So were her last.