Chapter 49: Chapter 49

Dimitri

The next few days went by quickly, I was getting used to my new work routine and slowly started talking more with Blair, reminiscing about the beginning of our relationship. She would send me pictures of some spots in Istanbul she wanted me to see, give me news about her parents, and sometimes we would just talk about trivial things, but we never got as far as I would have liked.

"Dimitri, for God's sake, you need to touch the subject"

My sister told me in the message she sent while I was waiting to board at the Debriefing lounge at the Moscow airport.

"I am giving her a break.”

I had vented to her about the whole situation involving Blair and me, and while she had been excited about a likely reconciliation between us, she was already losing patience.

"I know you think you need to be patient, but sometimes we also need to take action before it's too late!"

I thought of an appropriate way to respond to that message, but before I could complete my thought, my cell phone started ringing, bringing an involuntary smile to my lips as I saw Blair's face stamped on the screen.

" Good morning, Blair.”

I didn't take long to answer it.

" Good morning, Commander. Where are you?

" Moscow, I am waiting to return to St. Petersburg, scheduled to take off in two hours," I explained.

Since the trip from St. Petersburg to Moscow took less than two hours, I ended up doing it several times a day. It was a different routine from what I was used to with international flights, but I couldn't say it was bad.

" Are you enjoying yourself? " she asked.

" Not bad, how is your family?

" My father is at home, I've hired a caretaker to take care of both of them. I have to go back to Newark, my leave ends in a few days and I'll lose my job if I don't," she gave me an anxious look, as if she intended to tell me something.

" I'm glad they are recovering.”

An uneasy silence fell over us, until Blair decided to break it.

" Dimitri, I've been thinking a lot about us, and I think we should talk…”

That made something turn inside me with anticipation. This was the opportunity I had been waiting for.

" Sure," I tried to contain my excitement at this proposal.

" I think it would be better if it happened in person, so I bought a ticket to St. Petersburg tomorrow, so I can stay for two days before going back to Newark, then…”

" I'll pick you up at the airport, I…”

" You don't even know what time I'm going to land," she laughed.

" I'll figure it out, just tell me your flight and I'll get it," I assured her with a half smile.

Blair let out a small laugh, looking away, still smiling, and my heart warmed at that image. It'll be okay, we'll talk and we'll be fine!

" I have to go, my dad's calling me, and I'll text you all the information, okay? “

" Okay.”

" Have a good flight, Commander. Let me know when you land," was the last thing she said before she ended the message.

I felt the urge to jump up and down and dance around in excitement, but obviously I couldn't subject myself to such a ridiculous scene, especially at my place of work, so I just put my cell phone away and went to talk to my co"pilot, a young rookie who was on his third flight.

I waited for the boarding with my spirits completely renewed, it was going to be a great day at work, I was counting the hours until Blair arrived the next day.

The time took a little while to pass, probably because of my anxiety after the phone call, but soon we were getting ready for takeoff. I took a selfie in the cabin of the plane and sent it to Blair.

"Now that's a view I really like"

Wondering how she would react to that photo, I hung up the handset, preparing to begin cabin checklist procedures before takeoff.

" Girlfriend? " Danila Vasiliev, my copilot, asked.

Normally I would avoid any exposure of my personal life, but at that moment I was too excited to hold back.

" I hope so.”

" You hope?”

" Long story, we broke up a few weeks ago and tomorrow we're going to talk, and if everything works out, I hope to get back together with her.”

" Good luck," he wished before focusing on his work.

After finishing the checklist, we contacted the control tower, awaiting authorization for takeoff.

The flight went smoothly, the weather was clear and we did not experience any turbulence, although the rainy weather in St Petersburg reduced our visibility somewhat.  Soon we were contacting the control tower in Pulkovo to get authorization for the landing.

" Sierra Romeo Oscar Tango Juliete, activate identification, climb and maintain level two nine zero, report stabilization " the Pulkovo tower flight controller sounded in the headset.

I started the landing confirmation procedures, until I was instructed by the control tower which runway I should head for.

" Oscar Tango Juliete, prepare arrival REDE uno seven, final procedure Hotel two to track uno seven right, report for descent.”

" aware, prepara chegada REDE uno sete, final procedure hotel two track uno seven right, report for descent," I replied, adjusting the aircraft's course to the indicated runway.

" Oscar Tango Juliete, sighted, cleared for landing track uno seven right, wind uno eight zero

degrees, zero-nine knots.”

I activated the landing gears, initiating the descent. I felt the aircraft contact the runway smoothly, beginning to adjust for the aircraft's complete landing. Then, to our surprise, another airplane came into our field of view and began taxiing onto the runway we were on.

My body went into a state of alert, next to me I could hear Danila exclaiming something in desperation, while I searched for a magical solution to prevent a plane of over 22 tons from crashing into another at 260 km/h (160 mph).

It all happened faster than I could register, one moment I was trying to divert the aircraft, another I was covering my face to protect myself when part of the windshield shattered on impact before everything went black.

I can't estimate how long I remained unconscious, I alternated between consciousness and unconsciousness at times, hearing the screams and cries of the passengers mixed with sirens while red lights were reflected everywhere.

Danila lay unconscious next to me and a searing pain took over my chest, not allowing me to move.

Terror growing inside me with each second, I brought my hand to my abdomen, lifting it only to see it covered in blood. Tears started streaming down my face as I realized this terrible reality, I had come so close, but in the end, a single thought was running through my mind.

I will die without ever telling her how much I love her!