Page 302 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 1

“Did you eat dinner?”

Anna shook her head. “I wasn’t hungry.”

Seth sighed and stood. He looked at Greg. “I’m going to go get her something to eat. You want something?”

“Coke?”

When Seth left, she glanced at Greg. “I’m sorry I’ve been so difficult.”

He looked surprised, and then his face softened into a warm smile. “It’s okay. I know things have been tough for you lately. I’m sorry I wasn’t more sympathetic.”

Seth returned a few minutes later with a sandwich. She eyed it warily. Not because it didn’t look good, but because her stomach felt so queasy. She glanced at Seth and then took a bite, for his sake. The taste somehow calmed her stomach, and she finished it quickly. Seth watched her with an amused expression on his face.

They boarded the plane a half an hour later and walked up a staircase to the first-class section. The area was configured with one seat next to each of the windows and two in the middle. Anna sat in the first window seat, Seth sat across the aisle, and Greg sat behind her. After she was situated, she curled her legs under her and stared out the window, fighting to stay awake.

The flight attendant came by and offered her a drink while they waited to depart. “I’ll also be happy to turn down your bed as soon as we’re in the air,” she said in a pleasantly German-accented voice.

“That would be wonderful.” Anna smiled. “Thanks.” She stood and looked around as people settled in. The flight attendants took coats and brought drinks.

“Anna, why don’t you sit down?” Seth said gently. “You can stand while the plane is in the air.”

“If I sit, I’ll fall asleep.” She bit her lip. Was she being difficult again? “Is it okay if I stand?”

Seth nodded, concern in his eyes.

It seemed like forever before the fasten seatbelt light came on. The familiar wave of nausea washed over Anna again and she clutched her stomach.

“Are you alright, miss?” The flight attendant asked. Her name tag read “Inga.”

Anna shook her head. “My stomach’s a little upset.”

“Do you fly often?”

“Only once.”

Inga smiled. “Let me see if I can find something to settle your stomach. I will be right back.”

She returned a few minutes later with a glass of water and a green package with large tablets in it. She also had some peppermints. “This should help. Peppermint is also good for nausea.”

Anna gave her a grateful smile. “Thank you,” she said.

“We will be leaving shortly.” She pointed to a white bag in the pocket in front of Anna’s seat. “If you need to vomit, use that.”

Anna hoped she wouldn’t need it. She had only thrown up a few times in her life and it had never been pleasant.

As the plane backed away from the terminal, she dumped the tablets into the water and absently watched them bubble up and dissolve. She was so tired, the bubbles floating to the surface mesmerized her.

Through the overhead speakers came the muffled voice of the pilot, speaking first in German, then in English. They would arrive in Frankfurt around eight-thirty Monday night. Anna’s stomach lurched as the plane moved. She took a drink of the fizzy water and grimaced.

“It’ll help your stomach,” Seth said, giving her a sympathetic look. “Try to drink it fast.”

Anna nodded, took a deep breath, and downed the drink in several big gulps. Seth was right. By the time the plane rose into the air, she wasn’t nauseous anymore. She was still nervous but didn’t think she’d need that little white bag anytime soon.

Once they were airborne, the flight attendants set to work adjusting people’s seats so they could sleep. Inga came over and Anna stood while her seat was changed into a bed.

“Are you feeling better?” Inga asked as she placed the pillow and duvet on Anna’s seat-turned-bed.

“Yes, thank you. The drink helped immensely.”

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