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"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth"--Matthew 5:5

There’s no better way to ruin a perfectly peaceful flight than sitting between two coers I always request an aisle orseat if I can, but this flight was booked solid and the unhelpful lady at the check-in desk told e seats

The older gentle, probably hoping I’ll strike up polite conversation with hi Portland, leaving behind the only life I’ve ever known, and the only thing I feel like doing is keeping quiet and praying that I’it on hio live with Aunt Dee, his eccentric sister My parents, especiallynow

I’ve followed his plan for the last twenty-one years, and it’s brought nothing but heartache I’m ready to make my own decisions about what’s best for ers settle in around er in Father’ssaid a million different ways: forWhere I’m safe

I shakeit into the seat-back pocket in front of me "No can do, Father," I mumble to myself

A mother and her twin sons fill the three e in the first row, directly behind the wall that separates the first class patrons frouess, I’d say the twins are about twelve or so Their brown hair pokes out fro baseball caps they have firmly pulled onto their heads The hats uy on it I can tell it’s wrestling fro around to watch the televised shoiththat sort of thing

Just then I notice an extre jeans and a blue button-down shirt, with his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, board the plane Even with his shirt on I can tell he’s all muscle underneath it The definition in his chest and arainst his pecs and biceps Intricate tattoos cover every inch of exposed flesh on his aruyto decrease his appeal

I bite my lip as my eyes scan further up and take in the dark hair on his head It’s got a little bit of length to it and is styled to ht stubble, like he forgot to shave this ht--indicating it’s been broken a tiood looks The way he carries hi expression, exudes confidence Everything about hihly attractive feature in a s on the cover of awith their eyes because in the flesh, that’s exactly what I’ every minute of it

My heart pauses for a beat the moment this man locks eyes with ht hint of a smile plays at the corner of his full lips Briefly, I’ about his body, and I’ my lip

He winks at me like he knows exactly what’s on my mind before he slides into an empty row of seats in first class A short, thin man with a mullet and a beard takes the aisle seat next to hi the heat in ue

The two boys in front oftheir arraph?"

The letter X is all I hear them chant over and over as the small man who boarded the plane last turns around and says, "Not now, boys Phenouy beside him must be this "Phenomenal X" person because after the little man says that to the kids, he i to hi back around to address the two boys "Send so for each of you"

"All right!" exclaih-five

The rest of the plane begins to buzz as the knowledge that a celebrity is on board the flight spreads While I find the man extre et excited about it I have too uy ould never give someone like me the tiin to pass things up the aisle into first class I al, take-off, and while we are up in the air The poor guy will probably develop writer’s craht is over

After I turn down the stewardess’ offer of an in-flight beverage, allowing her to assist the old man beside me who orders a tomato juice, I lean my head back and close my eyes I try not to think about the one hundred texts Father is probably sendingtoout onI want to keep rehashing with him