The City of Lights

Abby had watched the scenery of the Los Angeles air port fade away in the clouds, the white fog slowly simmering all around the windows. Out of her window she could see the sky grow dark as they rose, the outlook of city lights and small buildings making her feel so miniscule in the universe. She was one person, looking over thousands as they lived their own lives, not aware she even existed.

Her mission was to figure out the stock plans that a company was going to invest in, they were ahead of the game when it came to stock broking. If you ever needed someone to help you get that little chip full of information from those spy movies you loved growing up, you would call the brunette girl sitting in the cushy airport seat.

She never looked like someone who would be a killer or a thief, but then again neither have some of the best murderers in the world. People were quick to judge, relying on their own personal preferences to pick who they deemed dangerous. Those people you let walk through airport scanners, their skin color, their religion, you look at them. You just do, no matter how harsh it sounded, this would always be human nature. It was natural selection, and nobody would pin a line of crimes on the petite girl with Susie q curls and dimples. Perhaps they would blame the Mexican man sitting in airport security, or the black girl on the news, never her. This was why she was so successful, her job was all about blending in. Nobody had ever recognized her when she was working before, and she doubted anyone ever would.

The metal box in the sky was swanky, she had to admit. Alex had booked a good one this time, as opposed to the last flight she endured to Africa that could have possibly ended in a crash of malaria . Dimly lit for their comfort considering it was nighttime , Abby was trying not to doze off. Her eyes were shut, thinking of arriving in the Paris airport already. The soft piano music chiming from her earbuds lulled her to sleep, despite her efforts to stay awake. She had always had a fear of falling asleep around other people, in case they snatched the wrong luggage only to open it and see papers with lists of bank accounts she had written down.

A blurting noise came onto the speakers. "Please remain seated and turn off any devices, keep your seatbelts on and prepare for landing." Abby's eyes crept open slowly, her hand still gripping the arms of her seat. She had been asleep for three hours immaculately, considering she hadn't sleep in two days. You were busy when you were trying to steal from others, it took preparation and time. As much as Abby believed in being a good person, she knew good guys finished last and saw no point in letting her talent go to waste. Perhaps one day she would get caught, and her conscience would be cleared; but for now she was preparing to land in Paris.

The lovely sight of lights blinked off in the distance, not as quickly at first, but soon they became closer. Towering buildings and beautiful bridges welcomed the flight as it scraped layers of the sky. They drifted down, wheels bumping against cement. She felt like she was home, but for the first time. It had been at least ten years since she had last been to France, and the memories were so blissful it almost drove her mad some nights thinking of how time passes. She just wished things weren't the way they were, she wished she had someone to come home to every night. Her phone buzzed revealing the young girl had forgotten to heed the command to turn it off. Jonah was texting her,..he was waiting for her.

Now, to say she loved Jonah wouldn't be a lie. She loved him, but not the way she knew real love was supposed to feel. Unluckily for him, he was convinced this was the real deal. He had transferred jobs to Toulouse for the year, and was hoping to spring it on her tonight before asking her to move in with him.

Abby stood after the plane had landed, bumping shoulders with passengers, bags being slung down from the small compartments above them. She had her duffel bag in her hand, her mind screaming at her to hurry, run, as fast as she could. The smell of Paris air was calling to her, reminding her where she belonged. Oh how she had ached to return, but she was never one who truly lived out her dreams. She would say something would happen, but would find herself falling short. But not this time, this time she was walking through the air plane and into the small corridor leading to the bustling airport.

"Bienvenue au France, nous espérons que vous apprécierez la belle ville de lumières et amour."