The terminal buzzed with routine energy, families with suitcases, businessmen speaking on Bluetooth headsets, and airport staff moving about like background noise. She blended in seamlessly.
Approaching the airline desk, she used the name Aylin Monroe Alston, a Turkish national. The agent smiled and greeted her, asking, "What is your final destination, ma'am?"
With a smile, she replied, "Istanbul."
The agent inquired again, "One-way or return?"
After a brief pause, she answered, "One way."
As the ticket printed, she clenched her jaw.
After receiving her ticket, she sat down alone by Gate 6, staring blankly at the runway. Her fingers tightened around a locket as memories of her mom came rushing back. Sibel Aydin was born in Istanbul and grew up wandering the twisty cobbled streets near Beyoğlu. She was a poet and a fighter, always saying, "When life burns you, go back to where your roots took hold. That's where everything can grow again."
