Hello everyone,
this is my very first Manifest fanfiction. I hope you like it. I want to apologize in advance for any grammar and spelling errors as English isn't my first language.
I hope you`ll like it.
Aino:)

I don`t own anything!

Another Life

Chapter 1

No one can explain what happened on April 7th 2013. Some people called it impossible. Others called it a miracle.

All I know is… it was the day my life, my family`s lives, changed forever.

If you had seen us that afternoon, you probably would have thought we looked like a typical American family returning from vacation.

My brother Ben and his wife Grace, their twins, Olive and Cal, bickering like an old married couple and the real old married couple, my parents. Still in perfect health, still trying to run my life.

Mom was braiding Olive`s hair when she brought up the topic of my possible engagement for the hundredths time.
"It`s not just about you. This family needs something to celebrate."
"That`s a pretty backwards reason for a wedding, but"
"How`s this for a reason? Jared loves you." My dad engaged in our conversation.
"And I know you love him." Mom added.

Typical right? But what you couldn`t see is that Cal`s leukemia wasn`t responding to treatment. Or that Ben and Grace were desperately struggling trying to find a cure. Or that I still had nightmares about the car accident.

I never questioned Jared`s and my love, not even for a second but they didn`t get it. Or at least I thought so until mom continued.

"Michaela Beth, even people that have made mistakes deserve happiness." I huffed and she continued. "You know my favourite verse. All things work together for good."
"I don`t believe that anymore, mom. How can I?"

Which is why when I got the chance to stay away from home for only a few more hours, I jumped at it.

Attention to passengers of flight 537 to JFK.

This flight is oversold. We are offering travel vouchers for 400$ for everyone willing to take a later flight.

"Yes, that`s me." I said, mom looked at me obviously disagreeing.

So, Grace, Olive and my folks took the first flight home, flight MA 537. While Ben and Cal joined me on flight 828 after Ben managed to convince Grace that those 800$ were enough money for an extra trip to the Mayo clinic.

I spend most of the time on the plane looking at photographs of Jared and me. I won the window seat while Cal sat between Ben and I and fell asleep shortly after departure. Ben watched me, I felt his eyes on me.

"Mom`s not wrong, Jared`s not going to wait around forever."
"Great marriage pep talk. Thank you." I rolled my eyes at him then looked back down at the photographs.
"Why are you fighting this, when all that`s going to do is make you happy. It`s all we want for you."
"That`s really sweet of you. You must be drunk."

"Definitely." He paused. "Say yes to Jared. Have a wedding and a honeymoon. Turn the page, it`s time. And yes, you deserve it." At that I finally turned to look at him again and our eyes met. "Truly." He added and smiled at me, trying to encourage me.

Never would I have guessed it myself, but Ben`s marriage pep talk was the one that actually helped make up my mind.

As soon as we landed at JFK, I looked at the last text I received from Jared. "Will you marry me or what?"
And I responded with a determined "YES!"
Only seconds later I saw his response. "Can`t wait for you to get home. It`s time to celebrate." She could see the smirk covering his face.

to be continued...

Thanks for reading. What do you think?