Thirty Five Lives on My Ticket
Language: en
I had finally managed to carve out a few days of leave to visit my parents. We were sitting in the quiet warmth of their living room when the encrypted satellite phone in my pocket buzzed. A single message flashed on the screen: “Ticket booked. Depart immediately.” My professional instincts kicked in, accompanied by a cold spike of dread. I didn't ask questions. Within minutes, I was in a cab rushing toward the airport. I sprinted through the terminal, arriving at the boarding gate just as the final call was echoing through the PA system. But a hand reached out, blocking my path. "I’m…