Words escaped my mouth that I thought I would never say, “My family was right.” Even after saying it, it left a taste I could never remove.

In my family, leaving the state is unheard of. We stick to our roots with not a thought of ever moving them. But I’ll be the first; I’ll be the one to finally see another part of the world. And believe me I’ll brag. I was never one to travel alone, whether it was around the corner or around the block. Some called me scared I just think it is better to travel together than alone. Sometimes it takes many to do what few cannot and I truly believed that. I took the only two people I ever have traveled with, sense I was young.

It was the summer before college, I was care free, and I was free. Free from the ties that bind, the ties known as mother. In truth I wasn’t that free, somehow my mother talked me into going to college in state. I wasn’t kidding about my family and leaving the state, once I even hinted at leaving she crusaded to destroy the idea. In the end, like all other battles, I submitted. But I was not letting her take the trip I planned at the beginning of my senior year. The trip I saved up for and worked for the whole school year.

“Hey! Jonesy.” I turned to notice a nappy, thick haired kid dressed in the cheesiest beach wear. It was Michael.

Michael was the most competitive kid I ever met. He and I had a friendship most would say is a rivalry. Everything we did was a competition. Sports, games, grades, and anything that could result in a winner, it was always a competition. The competitions don’t drive us apart it keeps us together. It’s just complicated, I suppose.

He was always the over the top kind of guy but today he outdone himself. His dark brown skin was dressed in a yellow beach shirt, with an orange palm leaves pattern. His beige shorts hung low below his knees, and on his feet were black sandals that exposed his feet. All worn as his suitcase rolled behind him.

“What’s up Jonathan.” said a curly haired girl calmly walking behind him rolling a pink carry on, with her.

Makayla his twin sister would always tag along, around the block with us. I wouldn’t mind but Michael would go into frenzy every time she would trail us. Michael soon let it go and everything we were doing she was doing: sports, games, anything. But she was never into competition. That’s what I liked about having her around, she kept us civil.

Unlike her brother Makayla was normal. She shared the complexion of her brother, but not style. She had on to my delight a brilliant blue, see through blouse over a white beater. Her lower half wore black shorts just a ways away from her knees. Her feet sported three straps, sandals showing her feet.

“Hey just in time, and I won.” I laughed, holding my hand out for a high five.
“Only because she couldn’t figure out what to bring.” he scoffed and folded his hand like a sore loser.

But I didn’t tease any further. I turned my head to examine his sister. “Hey, Makayla, looking nice like always.”

Michael unfolded his arms. His wallowing in self-pity turned to a quick burst of rage. “Are you seriously hitting on my sister? Man, bro-code violations all around.”

“Relax he’s only being nice, and stating the obvious.” she said flipping her hair in the manner you’ll expect a mean girl to, in high school. She then reached over to give him one huge slap, in the back of his head.

Truth is I was hitting on her. I hadn’t seen her since middle school, and she grew up beautifully. I always had a crush on her, but I guess I knew better than to venture towards it. Michael would kill me, so I let it go. Seeing her now, it sure brought those feelings back.

I laughed at her comment, “Yeah sure Makayla, how you been?”

“A total pain if you ask me,” Michael said rubbing his head, “Literally.”

“Well he didn’t,” she held her hand up and he flinched. “I’ve been fine, this year I’m a sophomore”

“Right, right, not too far behind,” I pointed out.

We stood and caught up for a while until the woman on the intercom came on:“Now boarding flight 22, to Hawaii.”

It was time to leave this state once and for all. We stood and hurried to the boarding gate. We gave the woman our tickets, and rushed to find our seats. The rows were set in three, but Makayla and I sat together while Michael sat behind us snoring, even before the plane took off.

“I guess he’s still the same, huh?” I asked as she struggled to get her carry on in the overhead compartment.

She was tall but I was taller, I would help but I know she’ll just say no.

“I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing. He’s childish but kind. He’s totally immature, but he owns up to it. And I’m glad if that never changes.” she said, right before she tried one more time and nailed it.

Before she could stop me, I closed the compartment’s door for her. As for the question, I also could have finished that for her. I know she loves her brother, even though she may hit him a few too many times, she wouldn’t give him up for anything else.
“So how’s school, you said you were a sophomore, right.” I whispered as the plane we soared through the clouds.
“Great, I’ve been accepted into the National Honor Society.” she said, with a smiled that lit up the room.
“That’s great so-” just before I could finish, a sound like someone sticking a fork in a garbage disposal through the plane.

When I turned around it was Michael sleeping away behind me. We both looked at each other and cracked a laugh, as if saying, classic Michael.

We both sat back in our chairs, and I let myself slip away into a deep sleep.

It didn’t last. I awoke to panic and chaos, the cabin shook and jumped like a roller coaster. I turned to see Makayla’s face frozen in fear, as if she couldn’t handle the reality of what’s happening. I grabbed and shook her, she blinked acknowledging me.

“Snap out of it, come on Makayla.” I shook one more good time, and she awoke.

She let go a scream that could pierce an ear a hundred miles away. It was just enough to wake Michael, but by then it was too late. The door of the plane’s cabin was ripped out of the plane’s side. The hole created a vortex of wind that sucked the air I breathed. Michael and Makayla were gone, not dead, but unconscience. Then I felt myself slipping away as well. The screams of the passengers faded to the background. Flashes of anarchy and pandemonium were the last things I said before I was gone.
“Jonesy, hey Jonesy.” In a void of darkness I heard a voice, a voice calling me, telling me to wake up. It was Michael.
From a void of darkness, I began to arise into the light. Not the light of the afterlife but the light of freedom. I walked in it…
“I told you to never to call me that.” I said with such a weak voice I could barely hear myself.
“That’s my boy.” Michael said. He reached out his hand, offering to help me off the ground.
I reached out my hand to meet his. I stood up, and opened my eyes to take in the full picture. I looked out to see the sky dive into the ocean. I turned to see, a jungle of palm trees and bushes. Beneath me lied white sand. I turned and twisted becoming more confused each time.
“Where are we?” I said turning to meet Michael in the eyes.
I noticed he was wearing his vacation shirt around his waist, and only wearing the white beater that was under it. His face was a little sunburned, so it told me he was out here a while.

Then it all came rushing back, the plane, the chaos, Makayla. I walked over to the water; I looked at the reflection of me. My caramel skin wavering in the water, my red, plaid button-up was missing buttons and ripped. I unbuttoned the remaining buttons and opened up my shirt to reveal my white T-shirt under it. Makayla, it hit me again.

“Where’s Makayla.” I said frantic
“Calm down, come on man.” Michael stuffed his hands in his pockets and walked hastily in the other direction across the sand.

We walked on the beach for a short time before I seen it. The wreckage was sight no one could bare, the image of the lives on board stopped my heart but I pushed passed it. I walked to the remains of the demolished plane. I peered inside to see all the passengers were gone, this time gone as in death. The bodies of the deceased were all covered with the airline’s complementary blankets. I looked over to our seats to my relief no covered that means Makayla was alive.

“Makayla’s through here.” Michael said walking on board.
We walked down the aisle to the cockpit, and swung open the door. There Makayla sat in the pilot’s chair, with his head set on. She fiddled with the dials and flipped switches.
“Hey, look who I found.” Michael said.
She turned with no hesitation. She leaped out of the chair so quick to hug me I almost fell.
“I’m going back out to look around.” Michael turned around and headed back out the door.
She let go of me and sat back down. She turned back to take another deep look back and placed the headphones back on her head. “I’m glad he found you.”
She didn’t look at me, but I know she was crying.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“Searching for a signal” she answered. The tears were gone, and she was back fidgeting with buttons and switches.
“How do you know how to do that?”
“President of the robotics club,” she said. Still looking at the dashboard of confusing knobs and such, “I took it, freshmen year. I’m pretty good”
“I don’t doubt it. So, any luck.” I said. There was a little excitement in my voice, which could've been a little premature.
“No.” she sighed. Makayla leant back into the chair, and sighed louder.
“I’ve been at it for hours. Would you by chance have a phone?”
“Yeah sure.” I fished inside my pockets to find my black, slender touch screen phone. ”The screens cracked… like a lot.”
“As long as it turns on.”
“Yeah, ok.” I said. This was the moment of truth. I held the power button down and waited. I silently prayed and starred with such intensity my eyes felt as if they’ll pop out of my head.
After a minute, I sighed with despair. Then a light penetrated the black cloud over my head.
“Any luck.” Michael said standing there in the door frame.
“Yes.” I shot up so quickly and gave Michael such a huge hug, picked him up off the ground.
“You’re killing me, man” he said, gasping for air.
“Sorry ‘bout that.” I sat him down and looked down at Makayla sitting there examining my phone. “What can you do with it?”
“A lot of things. But for right now, use the plane’s radio to amplify it signal to see if I can find a signal.
Michael and left her to it. As men we decided to find the simple things we needed to survive. Food, water, shelter, the textbook guide to survival. The trouble was finding it. First thing shelter
“Where should we sleep for the night?” I asked.
“No need for that, guys, we won’t be here long.” Makayla said grinning so wide. She stood in the doorway of the plane. “I got a signal, come on.”
Looks like us being men would have to wait. Makayla saves the day, thank god. We ran behind her to the cockpit. She sat back in the pilot’s chair and put her head back into the headset.
“Hello. Hello is anyone there.”
“I thought you said the plane’s radio was going to boost my signal.” I asked
“That was before I got a good look inside your phone there was a few good pieces, but the rest was shot. In the end I had to use the phone to help the airplane connect to a signal. It was hard but I got it done.
The radio interrupted the inflation of Makayla’s ego, “This air control, please give us your location.” said a raspy man’s voice.
We all quickly celebrated, but quickly quieted, so she could get her back.
“Yes, hello.” she said, making sure he was still there.
“Yes, this is air control, please give us your location.” the voice said.
“Umm, we’re the sole survivors of Flight 22 to Hawaii from Michigan.

“Ok,” his voice grew more serious and urgent, “keep talking to me. Don’t turn off the radio, I’m tracking you now.”

He went on and on, of what we should do. Hours went by, and time moved as slow as possible without it completely standing still. The time was torture, we all stood on ends. Michael passed the cockpit; Makayla sat having an electronics conversation with the pilot, as I sat biting my nails. The beginning happened in a flash, while the ending was taking all the time in the world. I sat and thought of those people who lost their lives in the crash. I couldn’t help but feel guilty. Then I just thought I’m glad to be here with my friends.

Then it all sped up again…time I mean. The sound of the helicopters in the distance was our cue. Michael and I set of the flares outside. The red flames shot high into the sky. The sun was just beginning to set, so brilliance of the light radiated down on us. Makayla came out from inside of the plane and stood beside us. This was it, this was salvation.
“Guys we’re going home!”

I glanced at Makayla, glancing up at the beautiful crimson light. I snatched her by her waist and did what I’ve been thinking of since I seen her in the airport. I planted a kiss upon her lips. Everything faded away.

In the background I could hear Michael, “Dude, bro-code rule number one.”

But in the end that voice would fade away, and that kiss was all that mattered. The helicopter landed, and the gusts of wind whipped around us. “You kids needed a rescue?”