Word Count: 6,004
Summary of Events:
Chapter 1:
Heleighna woke up in the night, feeling unsure about her leaving the next day. Étienne and his traveling companions — Teghanne and Chérie — arrived at their destination at a late hour, which didn't impress Étienne. Heleighna woke up later and had breakfast with her family before they set out for the airport.
Chapter 2:
Étienne worked with Sauvage as a little bit of a warm-up before talking with one of his fellow competitors and trying to help a rookie who was having some troubles. Heleighna said goodbye to her parents, sister, and friends, before finally setting out for Canada. Étienne competed and got fifth in the round, then he and several fellow competitors went out for supper together.
Excerpt of the Day:
"There was no way Heleighna was saying anything, she was too close to crying to dare try, being as she didn't want to burst out into tears. Swallowing, she embraced Jacquelinne — who was already in tears — tightly.
Jacquelinne held on longer than Heleighna had intended to embrace her, but finally released. Heleighna then embraced Aléxandra tightly. Aléxandra's ribcagee moved like she was taking shaky breaths as soon as they embraced.
Heleighna smiled at Aléxandra and then hugged Yzabelle. Yzabelle made her hug rather succinct. Heleighna then embraced Maman, who squeezed her tightly — she was almost concerned that Maman would squeeze her in half.
Maman kissed Heleighna's cheeks before releasing her to hug Papa. Papa kissed her cheeks before embracing her tightly. Heleighna could tell he was on the verge of tears, just like everyone else.
"Learn lots my darling," Papa said.
Heleighna considered replying, but didn't know what to say, so she didn't reply. She released Papa and then looked at all of them. All five of them were in tears. It was taking all of Heleighna's strength to keep from releasing tears of her own, although she was surprised that she wasn't weeping.
A boarding call for her flight sounded over the loudspeakers. Heleighna took a deep breath and turned toward the next part, the part she had to do on her own. She heard sniffling and crying behind her. She glanced over her shoulder at all of them, Jacquelinne hanging off of Aléxandra bawling — but then again, she'd always been dramatic — Papa with his arm around Maman's shoulder, rubbing it gently. He smiled at her.
Heleighna smiled in return and continued on, pulling one of her suitcases behind her, holding another in her hand, and her backpack in its natural place. She went through everything and finally got out onto the tarmac where the plane, huge, long, smooth, and white, with rows of little rounded rectangular windows — one of which she'd be seated alongside — along the body.
Arriving at the stairs up to the plane with many other people, Heleighna got into line. Most of the people around her were engaged in conversations, some in French, some in English, and probably others in other languages too.
The line moved steadily forward and soon Heleighna was advancing up the steps, and then she was in the plane. She quickly found her seat and put her backpack into the overhead compartment.
Sitting down, she buckled up and looked out the window. The sun was up and shining brightly on this warm, August day. Heleighna waited for awhile before finally she saw the stairs being wheeled away, then there were several announcements before the plane began to move.
Heleighna bit her lip as she stared out the window. The ground moved rather slowly as the plane taxied, then finally the ground started to pick up speed and then it started to get further away as the plane took off."
Teghanne: Tegan/Teghan
Chérie: shehree
Jacquelinne: zhahk'lahn'
Aléxandra: ahlexahndrah
Yzabelle: eezahbell
Maman: mahmohn'
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