‘You’re going to have the best time, I promise.’ Kate reached over and squeezed Olivia’s shoulder, as a large Departures sign directed them towards a looming glass building. ‘AndI’ve got you here with plenty of time! So much for the rush-hour traffic, hey?’
Olivia looked down at her watch. Only two and a half hours until her plane departed. A plane that had a seat allocated just for her. A seat waiting to carry her away from her normal, organized, safe life to a world full of complete unknowns.
This is insane.
What are you doing?
You can’t do this!
Olivia felt the blood rush to her head. Her entire body began to sear with pins and needles.
‘Make sure you leave your coat with me in the car – you arenotgoing to want to be carrying that all the way to India,’ Kate babbled on.
I need to get out.
I need to get out right this second.
‘Stop the car,’ Olivia shouted.
‘What?’
‘I said, stop the car!’ she repeated, louder and more urgently than before.
‘We’re nearly here, give me a second. I just need to park.’
Olivia’s lungs felt tight, her throat narrowing so that not even a sip of air could find its way in.
‘Kate, if you don’t stop this car in the next ten seconds, I swear to God I’ll open the door and jump out of it.’
In a state of panic, Olivia reached for the handle.
‘OK, OK, I’m pulling in!’ Kate dutifully swung the car into one of the taxi drop-off lanes and turned the hazard lights on.
Olivia closed her eyes and let her spinning head fall forwards.
‘Are you all right?’ Kate slumped down in her seat so that her face was almost level with Olivia’s. ‘Talk to me – what’s going on?’
‘I don’t think I can do this. It’s too much. It’s all too much.’
‘Olivia?’ Kate whispered, leaning in closer.
‘I can’t. I can’t go out there.’
‘Olivia, I need you to look at me.’
Slowly but surely, Olivia raised her head, her knuckles white from gripping her bag so tightly.
‘Now,’ Kate began, sitting upright and rolling her shoulders back. ‘First and foremost, let’s be clear on one thing: it doesn’t matter how scared you are, you are neverevergoing to threaten to jump out of the car while I’m driving again, OK?’ Her auburn eyebrows knitted sternly together.
Olivia nodded slowly, allowing a small bubble of laughter to escape her mouth. ‘OK.’
‘And secondly,’ Kate continued, ‘you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. If you really want me to, I will turn this car around and drive you straight back home, but …’ She placed a hand tentatively on top of Olivia’s. ‘Ask yourself, will you be able to live with yourself if I do?’
Olivia tore her eyes away from Kate’s and stared out of the window. It had been hard enough to convince people she was going to go on this trip in the first place; could she face proving them all right? And then, of course, there was Leah. Her precious baby sister. What would she think? Olivia’s heart swelled at the very thought of her and her final words.
Do it for me, my darling, brave sister.
‘You’re right,’ she mumbled. ‘You’re totally right. I’m just scared.’
