Passing the sun to you
June 30th (Pre-Departure)
The sun hadn’t quite risen at 4 a.m., but I could barely sleep. I spent most of the night stringing beads together and folding thin slivers of paper. I threaded each bead delicately and wrapped every strip of paper like a tiny gift, ready to reveal my handwritten notes.
I made the gifts for two very important people in my life.
But alas, I was awake. My purse, bag, and suitcase sat packed and ready to go, but was I?
It didn’t matter, though, because more than anything, I wanted to catch one last sunrise before I left. The burning orange sun flickered above the trees like a candle, and I knew I would hold onto that moment for as long as I could remember.
Nevertheless, I had anticipated this trip for more than six months, and now it had finally arrived. I was about to take my very first trip overseas and my very first trip alone. Still, tears streamed down my face as I said goodbye to my friends and family. Soon, the bittersweet moments faded, and with my bags packed and my flight scheduled to board at 12 p.m., I felt ready to go.
*ding*
SGF TO DEN DEPARTURE: DELAYED TO 4:02 P.M. – ANTICIPATED ARRIVAL 5:07 P.M.
Until I realized my next flight out of Denver would leave at 5:30 p.m.
That blissful blend of happiness and tears quickly gave way to panic.