I looked away before she could see tears gather in my eyes.

PART 5

The aircraft landed just after four.

I offered to retrieve Willa’s backpack and asked a flight attendant to help reunite her with her mother before anyone exited the plane.

We waited near the front galley while passengers filed past, impatient and absorbed in their bags.

Then I saw Elena.

She came through the aisle in a dark green coat, her hair gathered loosely at the nape of her neck.

There were fine lines beside her eyes that hadn’t been there five years earlier.