The Uber pulls up to the curbside drop-off. As the brakes slowed the movement of the car, Meredith gathered her things in the backseat of the car. She digs in her purse for chapstick and quickly applies it. The lid clicks shut and the stick gets tossed back into the purse. She pulls out her phone to open the Uber app. The driver, Carlos, made the trip at decent timing. She gave him a five-star review and a few dollars extra for the tip. Following the trails of the chapstick, the electronic device lands back into the fabricated abyss.
The driver in the white polo exits the car with the engine still running. Meredith follows his movements and opens the door facing the entrance of the terminal and steps out of the vehicle. She thanks the driver after he pulls her luggage from the trunk.
Meredith scurries toward the revolving doors to avoid any more droplets of rain. Ugh. She feels like a fish out of water- both literally and physically.
She finds the self-service check-in kiosks on the right. It was always easier to go to the machines. Less talking; and much more convenient.
First Name: MEREDITH
Last Name: GREY
DOB: NOV / 1 0 / 1 9 7 8
Confirmation Number: NT33264D
She then scans her passport and enters 0 for checked baggage. Meredith taps her foot while watching the ticket spit out of the tiny slot. Once fully printed, she slides the piece of paper inside the photo page of the passport and slips it into the inner pocket of her purse.
TSA pre-check did not make her day any worse so she felt thankful for that. Stepping into the other side of the airport, she was greeted with the crisp air of the well-funded cooling system. Unfortunately for her, casual summer apparel could not suffice in the struggle against the chilly breeze.
The panoramic view of the inner terminal displayed duty-free shops, cafes, restaurants, and various luxury boutiques all blurred with the rush of busy travelers.
Tugging her carry-on, Meredith window-shops past the stores, hoping to find a warm and comfortable coat to shield her from the cool air.
"Hello? Ma'am."
"I'm sorry I don't have any change."
"Oh no, not that. I'm with my family and my sister noticed you were, um, cold. It's pretty chilly in here and your hair is wet, I presume from the rain. I had a spare jacket in my bag and I thought you needed it more than me."
His arm extends and a navy zip-up hoodie was offered to her.
"Thank you but I don't think I can take this. I'm actually going in here to purchase a jacket." She points inside the Hudson News they were standing in front of.
"No no no, I insist. This jacket was just sitting in my bag. And airports overprice their things. It's not worth wasting your money on a crappy tourist trap. Here let me help you put it on."
The oversized hovers over Meredith's back.
"Thank you. You really didn't have to."
"No problem at all. I'm a doctor. Not that it has anything to do with this situation but I'd want the best for my patients and for others."
Their eyes met briefly. She looks down to hide her blush. The moment was interrupted with a faint voice in the background saying "Uncle Derek!"
The man turns toward the sound of a little girl for a brief second. He signaled for her to wait. "That's my niece. You're free to sit with us while you wait for your flight. My sister and mother are over there," he points toward the three individuals seated near Gate 14.
"Well actually, my gate is further down this terminal and I wouldn't want to intrude."
"Okay." He slides his hands into his pockets and makes a nervous rocking on his tiptoes. "Well, have a safe flight."
"You too. And thank you again. I really appreciate it."
He watched her continue further into the terminal. She walked slowly but at a steady pace. There was something about her. She looked… tired. Like she needed a friend. He wished she stayed to keep him and his family company. It seemed like she needed it.
Sigh.
...
Meredith's seat was all the way in the back of the plane. While others would speak to the flight attendant for a seat change, Meredith secretly liked it. It felt comfortable, with her own little space and convenient distance from the restroom. On her seat were a pillow and a neatly-folded blanket waiting for her. Her carry-on rested in the overhead bin as she reached for the items in the seat. She enjoyed the peaceful ambiance of the aircraft.
Sitting down, the view from the window caught her attention. Through the double-paned opening was an entire world. Like herself, the window was tainted, but with raindrops. Beyond the droplets was a world of possibilities. She closed her eyes. Deep breath in through her nose. Breath out through her mouth. Even though the raindrops blemished the exterior of the aircraft, the inner panel of the window was left untouched. In contrast, Meredith was terribly broken on the inside. But externally, those imperfections lie protected and out of sight.
She had not noticed the airplane taxiing onto the runway. Her eyes opened to a new view out the window. The pilot made a brief announcement and the roaring of the engines came to life. The raindrops raced one another across the window as the aircraft picked up speed. She watched the rain drizzle onto the window and leave with the strong wind.
She too needed that force to pull her from whatever the hell she was going through.
…
The turbulence made the flight unbearable. Meredith sighed in relief to be at her house. It was a clear evening and rain was surprisingly not on the agenda. The chirping of the crickets overruled the silent night. The house, however, was quiet and empty.
The suitcase and purse that accompanied her on her trip were left abandoned at the bottom of the staircase. Meredith was exhausted. Yes, the flight was exhausting. But dealing with her mother overall was draining.
She walks past the standing mirror having forgotten about the jacket that sat comfortably over her small frame. Her left hand reaches back and tugs the right sleeve as her arm slips free followed by her right hand mirroring the process.
She folds the jacket and tucks it into the bottom drawer of the dresser.
Derek the Doctor's jacket.
a/n: So they meet! The next chapter brings us to the present day. Okay actual fun fact this time: this story was originally going to be titled "The Jacket" until the current option overruled it.