Chapter 196

As we passed through the doors to the airport, all I could think about was Enzo. Already, I missed him more than anything. It felt as though I was leaving an entire half of my own body behind. Did he feel the same? Where had he gone when he climbed out of the window? As I stood behind my mother and listened to her arguing with the receptionist while she tried to exchange our old plane tickets for newer, faster ones, I couldn't stop myself from glancing periodically over my shoulder at the front doors. It was as though I kept hoping that Enzo would be standing there with his arms outstretched, but he never was.

Finally, the receptionist relented and let my mother exchange our tickets. She gave us the new tickets and pointed us toward security, where we went through the motions of removing our shoes and electronics while the security guard, a tired-looking middle aged man, waved us through the metal detector.

Once we were through and on our way to our plane, which would apparently be leaving in twenty minutes, it all felt so solid now. I felt as though I was walking throungh a thick mud, and with every step, I sank a little deeper. I trailed behind Taylor and my mother as they walked briskly to the terminal, still looking over my shoulder with the feeble hope that Enzo would be running after me... But he wasn't.