Requiem in Flight

The propeller hitched as the engine caught, causing the plane to wobble fiercely. In the cockpit, a young woman, alone, tried the radio again, to no avail. Outside, the storm loomed, as if taunting her, telling her she'd wasted her time. There was no chance that she would make it in time now. She knew she'd done her best, but was unable to stop her thoughts from turning to the people who'd been counting on her.

As her mind drifted, the plane's flight grew more erratic, buffeted by gale force winds, at times dangerously close to the dark clouds. Tears blossomed in her eyes as her hands tightened on the yoke. Desperation driven, she tried the radio one more time.

A bright flash illuminated the sky, shaking her entire body for eternal moments before all fell still. As her eyes opened, she could see only darkness tightly encircling her. Faintly, she heard music, slow and solemn in its lull. After a few moments, she felt as if the darkness had lifted her, carrying her in rhythm to the music.

All too soon, she found herself being set down as the music stopped. From somewhere above her, she heard a man's voice. He spoke of her personality, her greatest accomplishments, her greatest failure.

The speech ended, and she knew. No matter that she'd done everything she could, she'd still failed. The storm had won.

People would die for her shortcomings. Her inadequacy as a pilot.

She felt herself being lifted and carried again, then after a short distance, lowered farther than before.

Already, she heard them whispering to her, asking her why she couldn't have done better.

Why she wasn't good enough.

The darkness surrounding her grew suffocating, the voices overpowering.

She surrendered to them.

And she would know no more.