All Chapters of Last Flight Home: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

I returned home to Azurea alone.My mother opened the door. The moment she saw that there was no one behind me, a look of quiet heartbreak flashed across her face.My father sat on the sofa, his back straight as always, but there was a deep exhaustion in the way he held himself.I could not help but recall what they said to me five years ago. And now I was back–like a soldier who lost the battle and fled home. I turned my phone on and off again. The unread messages and missed calls from Clara Miller almost flooded the screen."Julian Vance, I'm sorry! Wait for me!""He's stable now–I'll buy a plane ticket right away!""Answer the phone, please. Let me explain!"I did not reply to a single one.My heart felt as if it was frozen.Three years ago, came back to me: the first snowfall in Northwood City. She burrowed into my arms and teased softly,"Julian, in this lifetime, Clara will never betray you."Now that promise melted away–just like the snow.The next evening, Clara s

I panicked and wanted to call an ambulance, but she forced a smile and insisted she only needed some rest. She refused to go to the hospital.In the middle of the night, Adrian had another episode. He became paranoid, convinced someone was trying to harm him, and spiraled into panic.Clara grabbed her car keys and headed for the door. I blocked her path."Didn't the doctor say you need complete rest? In your condition, you shouldn't be running around!"She looked at me, her eyes full of conflict."Julian, he's a high-risk patient, I can't just watch him die. Just this once. I'll be back soon."When she returned, she looked utterly exhausted. There were even faint reddish stains on her pants.Weakly, she said she was just overworked and told me not to worry.My doubt and unease were interpreted by her as a lack of empathy, as if I simply did not understand her profession."Julian, you used to be so kind. Why can't you try to understand now? This is my responsibility."She look

She ended the call. The color drained from her face. When she looked at me, her eyes were full of conflict."Julian, Adrian, he's standing on the edge of the rooftop. He's completely broken down and says he wants to see me one last time. Dr. Hayes says I might be the only one who can talk him down.""So?" My voice was frighteningly calm."I have to go! I can't just stand by and watch him jump!"She threw off the blanket and tried to get out of bed.I stopped her and held my phone up in front of her face."Clara. You're not going."She whipped her head around, shock written all over her face.Looking straight into her eyes, I said each word slowly and clearly."He's lying.""He just sent me a message taunting me. He's using suicide to force you to make a choice. Can't you see that?"I lifted my phone and shoved the message toward her.Her eyes darted across the screen. Her expression shifted rapidly–first shock, then something else replaced it: agitation and impatience."Ju

Now, that smile became the sharpest blade of all.Adrian's calls and messages kept breaking through every gap in her day. At first they were pleas, then tearful complaints, and eventually bitter curses–blaming her 'abandonment' for the relapse of his illness.For the first time, she felt a deep, bone-chilling disgust.Not just toward Adrian, but toward the version of herself who was held hostage again and again by a sense of duty and the urge to 'save' someone–until she destroyed her own happiness in the process.She blocked and deleted every way Adrian could contact her.Only then did she begin to understand, in a hazy, painful way, what Julian must have felt each time he watched her turn and walk away.It was not simple disappointment.It was the collapse of faith–the complete shattering of everything he believed about 'home' and about being someone's one and only.She made him believe they were the light in each other's lives. And then, right in front of him, she extinguishe

"Julian, come back with me. Let's talk things through–just once. Give me a chance to explain.""There's nothing left for us to talk about."My voice was unexpectedly calm. Even I was surprised by how steady it sounded."There is! There is!" she cried, growing agitated as she tried to move past Jade and grab my arm."I know I was wrong! I deserve to die for what I did! I shouldn't have abandoned you again and again, and I never should have lost our child! I've already dealt with Adrian completely. I quit my job–I'll never work as a psychologist again. Julian, let's leave this place. We can go anywhere and start over, okay? Please."Jade stepped forward, shielding me more firmly behind her. Her voice turned cold."Ms. Miller, please leave. Julian has his own life now. He's doing well, and he doesn't need your interference."Clara suddenly lifted her head, her bloodshot eyes glaring fiercely at Jade."Who are you? What right do you have to speak for him? What right do you have to