Friday: 7th of October, 2011
Gatwick Airport
Gatwick Airport
Jason Mann - just an insignificant name on a normal day to most such is the obsession with fashion, music and money. Little do people care about others' backstories and up bringing's. I looked across the cafe seating and seen a seated man - middle class, suited up like a stereotypical lawyer of sorts. I guessed he was off to Zurich, Milan or Munich; somewhere profitable - business like.
In another corner sat an elderly sobbing woman. I approached slowly in hope of finding out the problem. As I reached her, two or three photos laid across the table became visible - photos of an elderly man - a former husband, I guessed. I took the seat opposite - sharing the table with her:
"Is everything okay?" I asked as her rosy eyes met mine,
"Yes, yes I'm fine," she chuckled - wiping away her tears, "Benjamin was his name. He died last month of lung cancer - he was a fighter but his time had come. I'm travelling to The Hague to spend some time with our son and hopefully find somewhere special to lay his ashes,"
"I'm so sorry to hear of your loss," offering my hand in support,
"No, no, don't be sorry - we all get old," she replied, holding my hand across the out-laid pictures, "my name is Lucinda. It's nice to meet you..." she questioned,
"Jason - Jason Mann," I replied with a short smile,
"It's nice to meet you Jason. Very kind of you to approach an old lady sobbing - the rest of humanity would let time go by and ignore me - other things are far too important nowadays," she looked me in the eye,
"Oh, no, it's not a bother Lucinda. Everybody needs somebody," she chuckled,
"Well, I appreciate you sitting with me, Jason. I'd like to spend some time searching the shops alone - remembering Benny," she folded the pictures back up and put them in her pocket and smiled,
"It's nice meeting you - I hope you're happy remembering the times he and yourself spent together. I'll see you around." I smiled back at her before she headed off into the shopping area.
"Yes, yes I'm fine," she chuckled - wiping away her tears, "Benjamin was his name. He died last month of lung cancer - he was a fighter but his time had come. I'm travelling to The Hague to spend some time with our son and hopefully find somewhere special to lay his ashes,"
"I'm so sorry to hear of your loss," offering my hand in support,
"No, no, don't be sorry - we all get old," she replied, holding my hand across the out-laid pictures, "my name is Lucinda. It's nice to meet you..." she questioned,
"Jason - Jason Mann," I replied with a short smile,
"It's nice to meet you Jason. Very kind of you to approach an old lady sobbing - the rest of humanity would let time go by and ignore me - other things are far too important nowadays," she looked me in the eye,
"Oh, no, it's not a bother Lucinda. Everybody needs somebody," she chuckled,
"Well, I appreciate you sitting with me, Jason. I'd like to spend some time searching the shops alone - remembering Benny," she folded the pictures back up and put them in her pocket and smiled,
"It's nice meeting you - I hope you're happy remembering the times he and yourself spent together. I'll see you around." I smiled back at her before she headed off into the shopping area.
I checked my watch - 17:10. My flight was due to depart in forty minutes. I was also off to Den Haag - or The Hague - in hope of impressing Mark van de Kallen - chairman of the struggling football club there. Long had I served as Academy Manager to giants Arsenal but now, well, this was my time. I stared out over the busy airport - the sun setting in the distance as a British Airways flight prepared for departure. I took a sip of my coffee and hoped the journey ahead was a significant step to take in my forever changing life.
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