After a couple of minutes of the aircraft rattling in mid-flight, the FASTEN SEAT BELTS indicator light went on, followed a moment later, with an announcement on the cabin speaker. “Ladies and gentlemen, this is your pilot speaking. We are currently navigating through an unexpected area of turbulence in our flight path, and expect to be through it soon. For now, we ask that you please return to your seats as quickly as possible and keep your seat belts securely fastened until we have passed through this air pocket. Thank you for your cooperation.”

No sooner had the captain finished speaking than the yaw was replaced with dips, nose-to-tail of the jet, provoking a few gasps and cries from some passengers, Mathieu among them. He had a bad feeling about this, everything out of his control, the monster of death come to claim him.

Without warning, the plane descended precipitously as if being pushed from above. A pit in his stomach pinballed against his willpower, urging him wail, and he would have done so had the woman sitting across the aisle on his left not shrieked. The cry startled him and he looked at her. He could have sworn it had been an empty seat earlier, but assumed she’d just taken it when the captain had instructed everyone to sit, and he hadn’t noticed. She was an elderly woman, her face contorted by fear to resemble the archetypal theatre masks depicting tragedy.

The engines suddenly whined more loudly as the plane regained control, but even over the noise, he heard her say, “No! Not now! Not before I get to meet my grandbaby!”

“It’s okay… it’s going to be alright,” he heard himself say to her over the shrill of the engines and belying his own panic.

Sobbing now, the woman answered, “You… you don’t know that, can’t know that.”

“That’s right, I can’t. But here we are, an opportunity to meet each other for the first time ever, so no matter what the fates have in store, it isn’t all bad, is it?”

“No, I… suppose not. Still, I don’t want to die without meeting my grandson.”

“How old?” Mathieu asked.

“Two weeks. I wanted to go visit right away, but I had the flu, and now… now, this!” She began crying in earnest.

Bucking his fear and the captain’s directive, Mathieu unbuckled his seatbelt and, on his knees made his way across the aisle. He opened his arms and nestled her head in his chest. Quietly, he whispered, “You’ll see him soon enough; I promise you.”

He felt her head nodding, and asked, “What’s your name?”

“Claire.”

“Nice to meet you, Claire. I’m Mathieu.”

She stiffened, and sat up straight, staring at him. Mathieu, surprised by her reaction was about to ask what happened when suddenly the plane nosed downward and he tumbled forward, hitting his head on the carpeted walkway and losing consciousness.

Coming to as he inhaled the smelling salts under his nose, Mathieu coughed as two flight attendants ministered to him, It took a few seconds until he sat up and then, looking at the seat Claire had occupied, found it empty once more. “I’m… I’m okay.”

The flight attendant said, “No, you should see a doctor.”

“Really… I’m okay,” he answered, standing up and heading for his seat.

In the terminal, Mathieu’s mother waved at him. They hugged and kissed. As they made their way out, Mathieu said, “I know it’s a weird question, but how did grandma die?”

“Grandma Claire?” his mother asked. “She was on her way to meet you for the first time and her plane crashed. You were just a newborn and I think she would’ve braved the impossible to get that chance. It’s a pity you two never met; you would’ve liked her.”

Smiling, he answered, “I’m sure I would’ve.”