Member-only story
The Birthday Gift
Newly widowed,
My son dropped me off at the airport at 5:00 on June 3rd. I was traveling alone for the first time since my soul mate, Tom, passed away. I was fighting the tears as I got into the TSA line.
Thoughts of Tom are always with me, especially this morning as it would have been his 64th birthday. I am flying to San Diego to meet his sister. We will celebrate his life and spread a few of his ashes. The last time I flew out of this airport was when we flew together to Florida.
When I got to the front of the line, the security guard directing the lines sent me over to a newly opened line. My breath catches in my throat as I see she is pointing me to line number 13. Tears fill my eyes, and I blink them away quickly.
I always loved the number 13; it’s part of my email address, and I’ve always considered it my lucky number, and then when Tom passed away, I realized there was something significant about it. We had spent 13 and a half years together when he passed away on September 13th, 2021. His cremation number at the crematory was XX13.
I felt him on the plane with me so strongly. If the plane crashes, I will be reunited with him, I think. I tried to read and meditate, but thoughts of the healing journey and my life alone flooded my head. I fought tears most of the flight.
