Stranger on a Plane

Have you ever been traveling only by yourself? And been in a plane, had to sit with strangers. In Christmas! You got no book to read. Everything was awkward. Finally, you had to talk to a stranger. 

"Wow, Oliver Twist. Charles Dickens. You have a good sense in literature." I said to a man beside me. He was reading Oliver Twist. I just found that this might be a good topic. I knew much about Charles Dickens, that famous writer from Victorian period. At least, I could keep this conversation going, until I finally fell asleep. Because this was going to be a very long journey. I was heading to London, still about 10 hours more.

"Thank you. But I think everyone loves Oliver Twist." he said and smiled. See, it'd be a long conversation anymore. But still I didn't give up.

"Are you also heading to London?" stupid question.

"Sure. We all are." he smiled again and continued reading. I was really frustrated. 

"What's your name?" I asked

"What?" he looked very shock.

"I asked you about your name. You know, I may can guess the meaning behind your name. My friends say I'm pretty at it."

Now he giggled.

"I'm Noel!" he said

"Oh, so today must be your birthday?"

"No, no. I was born in May." he said and closed his book. Perhaps wanted to talk more.

"But, Noel is ..."

"Christmas. Everyone knows it. Without even having ability like yours."

"Where are you from?"

"London."

"Ah, so tell me. How's Christmas in London?"

"Are you gonna celebrate it there? It's been late."

"No, no. I came to London for New Year's Eve. And I actually don't celebrate Chrismast."

"If you don't celebrate it, why were you asking?"

"I just want to know. Is it wrong?"

"Okay, okay. Christmas in London is glorious."

"That's it?"

"What do you want more? And I actually never pay attention in it."

"Okay, so how's the New Year's Eve there?"

"You said you come here for that, right?"

"Yep."

"So why don't you just wait till you're there and watch it by yourself"

"But what if something bad suddenly occurs in this plane. Like what if the plane crashed?"

"If that your wish. I wish it came true."

"What? It's just... Ah, whatever."

"Don't be afraid. If the plane crashed, you would die beside me. And to die by your side is such a heavenly way to die" he looked at me and smiled

"The Smiths. Do you also like them?" suddenly the conversation was going well again.

"I'm English. We all love them. Do you like them?'

"I know some of their songs." I smiled and suddenly I thought that I began to love this man.

"What's your name?"

"What?"

"Your name. I'm asking bout your name."

"Sally."

"Who?" he looked surprise

"Sally. My name is Sally." I repeated

"No..." he looked confuse 

"Yes, not that Sally Cinnamon."

"I know, but ..."

"But what?"

"I've never met a girl called Sally in my entire life."

"Then... you just met her."

He smiled then.

"I'll take you."

"Where?"

"Somewhere. Where nobody knows if it's night or ...day."

Then we all laughed. Later, I just found this guy ain't just that stranger sitting beside me on a plane. He saved my life on that day where my star started fading away.