Chapitre 18: Chapter 18. To Berlin

Harper gazed out the plane window, watching the town shrink into the distance. A bittersweet feeling washed over her. Everything had gone remarkably well so far; her trip to meet Rachel had been a success, and now she was finally on her way to Berlin and out of her father's life for good.

Her mind gave a flashback to the moment before boarding, when she dialed her parents' house, knowing her father would answer. The moment he heard her voice, a torrent of insults and accusations erupted.

"You left the house for six days!" he roared. "And you're just calling now?! Are you whoring on the street? Good! Don't come back! You can die rotting on the street, for all I care! What a useless child! You should've died at birth!"

Harper held back tears, her voice barely a whisper as she replied, "Are you done, dad?"

"What the fuck are you going to tell me, you brat?" her father spat. "You can just disappear from our lives forever!"

Harper felt a surge of desperation rise within her. She had to know and understand the root of his deep-seated hatred. "Why?" she asked, her voice quivering. "Why do you hate me so much?"

Her father's response was laced with venom. "Oh, you want to know? Good! Let me tell you!" The tension crackled through the line. "You're not my child! You're not a Wilson! Your mother cheated on me with my best friend! She was pregnant with you when I found out about it!"

Harper felt the ground shift beneath her as the truth unfolded. She had always known her father was a difficult man, but this revelation shook her to the core.

"But I forgave her," he continued, "because I love her so much. But I hate you! Seeing you just reminds me of my best friend! I've always wanted to make your life miserable!"

Harper's legs felt weak; the weight of his words was crushing her. She could barely find the strength to speak, silently listening as her father's tirade continued.

"You're a bastard child! I hate your face! I hate everything about you! I hate the fact that you're alive and breathing in this world!"

Summoning every ounce of her courage, Harper replied, "That's exactly what I'm going to do. I'll disappear from your house and life, never to return again." She paused, then continued, her voice steadier than she felt. "Thank you for everything, father. If you want compensation for the money it took to raise me, I've already given it to Dylan. You can ask her for the amount."

A stunned silence followed, then her father's voice boomed, "You what? You left? Don't you dare to leave?"

Harper cut the connection, not willing to endure a moment longer of his rage-filled tirade. With a heavy sigh, she tossed the burner phone she had purchased for $20 into a nearby trash can. "Fuck," she muttered, crying while quickly getting into the boarding gate.

When she's finally on board, the Lufthansa business class cabin shows its qualities as a model of comfort and sophistication. Dylan was extremely forceful when she bought her a business class ticket; she claimed the next time Harper could buy it herself. Dylan told her that she has enough problems and trouble in the USA and should be calm and relaxed on the flight to Berlin.

Harper loves the seating arrangements since they are spacious, allowing her legs to stretch further and providing solitude with direct aisle access. The comfortable, ergonomic seats were cushioned in gorgeous fabrics and had many adjustments, shifting into completely reclining beds with the touch of a button.

One of the flight attendants, who unfortunately saw her crying, offered her chilled mineral water by the time Harper had already sat on her seat. "If you need anything, please let me know." She said it sweetly, not asking anything or pestering her, just providing her with a glass of water and going back to her job.

The seatbelt light blinked off, signaling that Harper could now move freely about the cabin. Glancing around, she spotted the young flight attendant from earlier and quickly waved her over.

"Excuse me, I was hoping you could help me with something," Harper said softly with a hint of desperation.

The flight attendant approached with a warm smile. "Of course, how can I assist you?"

Harper took a deep breath, steadying her nerves. "Well, I've had a really difficult day, and I was wondering..." She paused, unsure of how to ask for it.

"Yes?" the attendant asks again, gently.

"What's the minimum age for someone to drink alcohol in Germany?" Harper asked.

The flight attendant's expression shifted to understanding. "Ah, I see." She proceeded to explain, "In Germany, the minimum age for purchasing beverages containing less than 1.2% of distilled alcohol, such as beer, is 16 years old. For spirits and other hard liquor, the minimum age is 18."

Harper's face lit up with hope. "I'm eighteen," she said, quickly retrieving her passport to show the flight attendant. "Would it be possible for me to have a glass of champagne? I have had a very terrible day today. Please?"

The attendant studied the passport and then looked at Harper with empathy and said, "I'll go get you something better." She smiled warmly and gave the passport back to Harper. "Let me go get that for you right away."

Harper felt a rush of relief. "Thank you, thank you so much. I really appreciate it."

The attendant nodded and turned to fetch the drink, leaving Harper to settle back into her seat. As she waited, Harper couldn't help but ponder the events that had led her to this moment. The confrontation with her father had been gut-wrenching, leaving her emotionally drained. But now, surrounded by the gentle hum of the aircraft and soon to meet Dylan in Berlin, she will start a new life in Germany, and she feels a glimmer of hope begin to stir within her.

Not long after, the flight attendant returned to Harper's seat, carrying a tray with a crystal glass filled with a rich, brownish hue that looked like gold in a glass. Alongside the glass were a glass of ice, a can of Coke, a small plate of slices of fresh bread, and a selection of artisanal cheeses.

The flight attendant's bright smile immediately put Harper at ease as she presented the tray. "Asbach Uralt, one of the best brandies in Germany," she explained. "I've prepared it with some ice and Cola, so it will be easy for you to enjoy." She paused, her gaze meeting Harper's. "Is that alright with you?"

Harper's eyes widened with gratitude. "Yes, that's absolutely alright. Thank you so much."

Carefully, she began to mix the drink, delicately pouring the amber brandy over the ice and topping it off with a healthy splash of Cola. The aromas mingled together, creating a very nice scent in Harper's nostrils.

Once the drink was perfectly balanced, Lena placed the tray before Harper, her expression warm and understanding. "There you go, enjoy, and I hope your day will start to get better from here on out."

"Thank you," Harper replied, her fingers wrapped around the crystal glass.

"It's Lena; no worries, miss Harper." The flight attendant answered with her name.

"Thank you, Lena. I truly appreciate your kindness and thoughtfulness." Harper smiles, and tears start coming down her beautiful face. "I'm okay; I'm just having a very bad day." Harper quickly wipes away her tears and smiles.

Lena gave Harper's arm a gentle squeeze, her eyes conveying a silent message of support. "It's my pleasure, Miss Harper. If there's anything else I can do to make your journey more comfortable, please don't hesitate to ask."

"I will." She smiled again at Lena.

She sips the drink slowly, feeling the strong kick of brandy but also a friendly taste that is perfectly combined with cola.

Harper let her eyes wander out the window and watched the world below vanish into the distance as the plane kept climbing steadily. It was a psychological action for Harper, a visual representation of the distance she was putting between herself and the pain of her past.