Safety First

• Ishrat Chopra, Grade 7
• Short Story
• 2018

As I arrived at the airport, I felt excitement bubbling up inside me, ready to burst like a fizzy soda bottle. After checking in, I went to my gate and sat down. I still had 15 minutes till my flight so I decided to read. After 10 minutes, I heard my plane being called but I wanted to finish my chapter first. By the time I finished my chapter a long queue had started to form. I sighed; and I got up, joined the queue and waited.

Finally, I had got my seat and was ready to fly. The crew gave us the emergency procedures; I never listen to them. I always get bored, and to this day that has been the biggest regret I have ever made. I used to think that nothing could go wrong on planes. And - guess what, I was wrong. An almost death experience can change your life forever.

Midway through the flight, I woke up to hear the most unusual noises. They sounded like someone was swinging a tennis racket harshly on a windy day but a million times worse. The noise irritated my ears so much that I had to ask for ear plugs. Although, then instead of hearing noise I could feel the plane slightly rocking. Imprudently, I ignored the feelings completely thinking that it was just a bit of turbulence.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, this is your captain. We are experiencing some turbulence. Please stay seated.” I was still as calm as the shallow tide of the ocean. I sat down and looked around to see the anxious and nervous faces of the passengers. I didn’t understand what the fuss was, it was just a bit of turbulence. Suddenly a sharp wave of tiredness hit me like a bolt of lightning. I started to feel nauseous. I couldn’t breathe. My body was starting to burn up and my head was spinning. Suddenly, oxygen masks fell out. I didn’t know what they were because I never watched the emergency procedures. Dizzy, I stood up to go to the bathroom.

SLAM! That was the sound of me collapsing. I was on the floor unconscious. I couldn’t see a thing. My head was throbbing like someone had thrown a metal ball into my head and I couldn’t breathe. I felt paralysed. I couldn’t move or talk. I felt hundreds of arms reaching to me but I couldn't move . Deep red blood was oozing out of my body like lava falling down a volcano. Then I fainted.

I woke up in a hospital bed with my family surrounding me. I couldn't remember anything. I was told that the plane had flown too high and lost oxygen and because of my condition, I couldn't travel for a while but I never wanted to go on a plane again. Then I realised something, life is a maze. It can go one way and take a radical departure from where you thought it would go.