The airport terminal buzzed with the usual chaos—people rushing, announcements crackling, suitcases bumping against floors. Kyle's group moved as a single unit: Jane pushing a stroller for Junior, Cassandra carrying the diaper bag, Ella herding Jasmine, and Kyle pulling the largest suitcase.
Check-in took ten minutes. No issues. Passports were clean, tickets were first class.
"First class?" Jane had whispered when Kyle handed her the boarding pass. "Kyle, this is… a lot."
"You deserve it," he said simply.
Security was smooth. Jasmine needed help taking off her shoes, but a TSA agent smiled and guided her through. Junior slept through the whole thing.
When they reached the gate, Kyle stopped.
The plane sat on the tarmac, massive and gleaming. He had seen planes before—in movies, in the sky, from a distance. But standing this close, about to walk inside one? His heart pounded against his ribs.
"You okay?" Ella asked.
"Yeah," Kyle said, but his voice cracked.
