He was standing at the startup point on the runway, and I was sitting in the Air Traffic Control Tower. His voice echoed on the radio transmitter, "Juliet One-O-One Permission to Start." His handsome personality flashed in my eyes. "Clear Start Up Juliet One O One." I gave him the weather conditions in sign language and permission to fly his jet. The weather was cloudy, which was about to clear up shortly.
It was a coincidence that he was on flying duty and I was on a scope of radar in ATC doing my shift that night. Incidentally, our senior air traffic controller was also a woman.
"Girls, are you going to paint ATC in pink tonight?" He said this in a joking voice while taxiing his fighter plane.
"Sir, after completing the sortie, we will celebrate 3000 hours of your solo flying."
Sure, girls, tonight I am planning a surprise for all of you. And then he took off.
He was an officer almost nine years senior to me. He looked very serious, but his polite mannerisms and way of conversation revealed that he had a deep knowledge of life.
He did not look as old as he actually was. He had travelled the entire world. His brown eyes didn’t show the slightest hint of any pain that he was going through.
I had joined the Air Force just two years ago, and I loved the way he said, "Life is too short... "Love yourself" was his favorite phrase. He was unmarried, so he lived in the officer’s mess.
Emma is my roommate and an officer four years my senior. She says openly that, despite all his eccentricities, and despite all the rumours that have been spread about Rocky, she still likes him. I knew he did not like it because suddenly, that guy stopped coming to our room to play cards. He also stopped going to movies and picnics with us like he used to before Emma expressed her love.
"You annoyed him? Better, you tell him everything. "
Look, Neeta, I would prefer to look into his eyes and say, "Yes!" If you like me, I like you too, so say yes! Now I am sure that he is a hard nut to crack. He cannot love anyone but himself. "
Emma is beautiful, tall and attractive. I agree that she was no less attractive than Rocky. Anyone would feel happy in the company of that Air Force Medical Officer.
"You haven’t applied for a permanent commission?" I asked Emma.
What am I going to do in the air force if he isn’t with me? He hasn’t yet said anything. "
"Did you ask him?"
"Not in how you think. But he knows I am waiting for his answer. "
It was only last week that we spent some time together at our base station. There is nothing around this air base where we could spend our time. So we used to party whenever we could with loud music, dancing, alcohol, and food. We were in a party mood that day, too. Emma was at the forefront. First, everyone gathered at the bar. We were all in the mood to sing.
Somebody went and called Rocky from the squash court. He came and sat beside me and Emma. Emma sent me a message: "Ask him to sing." I smiled. Then he called the server and ordered drinks. All the bachelors hoorayed for his name.
Everyone was singing in chorus. Suddenly, he too started singing loudly.
I admired him, as it's an art to sing sad songs.
"What do you sing, sir?" someone asked him.
"My mother used to sing beautifully, as beautiful as she was. He took out his wallet from his pocket and showed his mother’s picture to everyone.
"Sir, sing a song for us," said a newly arrived flying officer.
Boys, this is a matter of passion. He waved at the waiter.
"It’s too early to eat, sir"
It’s time to close the bar, sir, said the barman. He lined up a couple of drinks for everyone and left. Emma took vodka. She raised her glass and started sipping.
I said, "Ema loves Emily Dickinson and she can sing her poems." After much persuasion, Emma started the poem with her sweet voice and amazing pronunciation.
Till Seraphs swing their snowy Hats –
And Saints – to windows run –
To see the little Tippler
Leaning against the – Sun!- Emily Dickinson
Emma smiled and added
I can see you
by the light of the moon.
"Do you also write poems? Rocky addressed me.
Nothing special, sir, just a few words! "
Then I asked, "Who was that lucky girl, sir? "
He got up, leaving his last peg without drinking.
"Dinner sir?"
After saying this, he turned to face Emma and walked away. Emma deliberately ignored him.
This story has a satisfying arc, although the resolution is tragic. There is nothing predictable about the narrative. That is a good thing. In order for readers to be engaged they have to hear something new, something they haven't heard before. You deliver.
Thank you for posting this story in the Ink Well community. We appreciate very much that you support other authors through your comments.
We don't have rules about only writing one story per prompt, @rayt2. But we do have limited voting ability. So just keep in mind that to conserve our pool of rewards we would have to limit the rewards to each story in order to be fair to other writers.
What an intense story, @rayt2. I wish we knew what was going on with the pilot, and if had some kind of mental episode or was disoriented or something else, like a death wish. It seems so odd that he would say "Yes" as if he wanted to have a relationship with Emmy, but then wish her goodbye. Regardless, it's a tragic ending, and we feel for Emma and her loss.
Ah, thank you for that explanation. So it really was just an error in his judgement!
Eesh...I don't know much about you, but in your writing, it sounds like you have some knowledge about flying. It's a tragic story...but some of the best stories are told in way that is unpredictable. For that, I enjoyed it. I found it interesting, the use of the bar, the night life, and even the conversation with the waiter. An interesting tale. Thanks!
You bet! It's on my bucket list to get a pilot's license...I've been reading up on it lately.
Oh, that is so sad for Emma. She waited for an answer and she got it but it's quite too late...
Such a sad ending but also poetic in so many ways :(
Impressive reading. Very good plot and writing, I congratulate you @rayt2 . 😀
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So he died?? Aw... Poor Emma.
Didn't expect the story to end up in tragedy actually. Oh... What a horrible way to die.
Anyway, I really liked the poem Emma read. I'm guessing you wrote it yourself? Because its quite brilliant!
Overall though, awesome story my friend!
Oh I see. I don't know much about Emily dickens but it's still a very sublime piece of poetry. Trust me buddy, you are anything but ordinary.
Alas, tragedy is indeed part of our lives...
A sad, tragic, love story. Always nice to read something about planes and flying. :)
😁😁😁
That is a sad ending... But i love the theme you chose. I wanted joining the Air force, Mom was against it. Love the story ❤️
Hi @rayt2. This is a very good and well told story. I felt like I was in heaven next to the stars.
This sentence is of great beauty.
I got the impression that Rocky wanted to say "yes" to Emma from the place he loved the most. Unfortunately, that very thing drove them apart.
As sad as it is, the last words a person says no matter what the intention will always haunt the people who get affected the most from their passing, for better or for worse.