Something seemed to petrify her these days. Dahlia could never calm her restless mind. Nothing. Internet, Music, tv, family, books, nothing could relieve her of her feeling of uneasiness. For the past few days, she had been plagued with a foreboding of her death. The only reason she could decipher for this was that she was to travel abroad. She was always thinking, 'could it be a plane crash? An accident? A heart attack in the plane?'

When the day finally arrived, her anxiety skyrocketed. She left her house with a handbag and two trolley bags packed a week ago containing items for every possible emergency and need she could think off. She was sure she missed out something as usual but this time she couldn't care less.

She is going to die anyway, so why bother. Then why was she even travelling. Another voice in her head questioned. Maybe she should cancel. There is still time.

Her thoughts were interrupted by her mother's phone call. Her mother was always like that. She would call every ten minutes (okay, may be not every ten minutes, but quite frequently) to check on her progress when Dahlia travelled alone. After assuring her mother that, yes, she had taken everything required and yes, she could take care of herself and finally placating her with "mom, I am an adult and I can very well handle a vacation on my own. Bye, I love you", all uttered in a single breath, she was more unsure than ever.

Sure, she managed to stave off her mother's concerns (at least until the next call), but what about her own?

'Please don't ruin this. This is your one chance to prove to yourself that you are capable. You deserve this vacation after those long hours in the office'. She pleaded and argued with herself.

She got into the pre paid cab after putting the bags in the trunk and took out her phone before her thoughts overtook her. If left alone she was sure she would have a lot of thoughts on how creepy the driver looked and how he could very much contribute to her death. It was just better to see memes and fan theories about the Avengers.

Besides, it would be probably be a plane crash. Yeah right! Like that's any better.

The cab came to a stop. She glanced at the airport and sighing, she lifted the heavy trolley bags out of the trunk. She was grateful wheeling the trolley bags occupied her completely. She was not exactly the best at navigating or walking gracefully or situations that require interacting with pissed off airport staff. So, she concentrated on not hitting herself or others with her luggage, attempting to handle both the bags more like a normal person and less like a drunkard, trying to seem prepared to fish out any document the staff may require. As soon as she got a break to think, she grimaced looking at the luggage she was wheeling.

'You are not in the plane yet'. She chided herself. She just had to make sure to close the carrier properly when she put the bags.

She had to be careful while climbing the escalator.

Maybe that would be the cause of her demise.

She wouldn't want her death to be a small news story about how a person tripped and fell to her death from some stairs.

That would be such a silly way to die. If she was going to die, she might as well die in a grand manner. You know, making the headlines, " Woman dies while trying to rescue a plane crash survivor." Not as part of a crowd of plane crash victims and certainly not by falling off the stairs.

She wondered if it would be her last chapter of her life. Nope, she was sure today was the last day of her life.

Then what about her plans. Not that she had an ambition of any sort.What about her family?

She bated her breath, mumbling all kinds of prayers as she climbed the stairs to board the plane.

Success.

A smile crept on her face and she whispered thanks to the Lord. Then she turned to the next challenge: The actual plane ride. The one she was convinced she wouldn't survive. She smiled tightly to the steward who welcomed her onto the flight and hobbled uncertainly to her assigned seat, dragging the bags behind her.

Before she knew it, she was strapped in the economy seat of a stuffy plane. Her phone rang. Mom. This would be call number five. She relayed to her mother, the events of the past fifteen minutes until she was satisfied.

'No more calls until I get to Bali. IF I get there'. She hurriedly corrected. For a last conversation with mom, this was pretty mundane.

Now that she got on the plane, she knew what to do. She began meticulously reciting all the prayers she knew. If she was going to die today, she would at least make sure she would be going to heaven.

That kept her occupied well after the flight took off and the 'seat belt on' sign was switched off.

Safe to use her phone now, she turned her attention from prayers to the 'land of downloaded youtube videos' and plugged in her headphones.

3 and a half hours later, she looked up from the funny nigahiga video, to hear the pilot announcement.

" Ladies and gentlemen, This is your captain speaking. We have landed in 3 hours 40 minutes in Ngurah Rai International Airport. The temperature here is 30°C. Hope you had a good flight."

She let out a huge breath.

Done. That's it. That's IT. Thank god. Thank you so much, Oh Lord.

Her eyes welled with tears. Slowly her tears of gratitude changed into something else as she remembered something. Anger.

THIS is what kept her from sleeping for two weeks. She must be seriously crazy.

This wasn't even the first time she felt like a bucket of ice was poured over her body. The chilling fear of death invading her thoughts. It happened every time she had to travel in a plane.

Why hadn't she noticed this before. This is the fourth freaking time. Maybe she needed help.

A hand lightly tapped her on her shoulder jerking her away from her thoughts. She followed her gaze from the hand to the person it belonged to. A stewardess looked at her seemingly frustrated.

Oh right, I am still on the plane.

She looked around to see the flight empty. She smiled apologetically at the stewardess while ascrambling off the seat to take up her luggage from the carrier.

She smiled inwardly. See, nothing fell over your head, you anxious idiot.

Taking out her trolley bags, she walked out freely, now that there was no one to block her path.

Walking towards the exit, she thought to herself.

Maybe I should set up an appointment with a counsellor as soon as I get home.

Having resolved this to herself, her smile grew wider as she saw light coming from outside.

Therapy can wait. Bali, my sweet vacation, here I come.

She stepped out of the flight and began climbing down the stairs with newfound confidence.

A little too soon if you ask me.

She realized that as soon as the wheel of one of her bags got wedged in the gap between the stairs. She yanked the bag's handle forcefully, trying to dislodge it. The wheel broke and the bag sprung out towards her hitting her on her chest.

That was enough for her to lose balance. Her eyes widened in shock. She tripped.

While falling off the stairs she had this thought first.

I was right.

And this thought at last.

So much for a 'grand' way to die.

A/N
My first attempt at a short story in wattpad. I am not sure how to feel about this but would appreciate feedback even in the form of constructive criticism.