'The Return'

In her recent English Transition Year exam, Ally Boyd Crotty wrote a story under the title 'The Return'.

It starts:

You sit across the aisle from me. One leg crossed, over the other. Your hands are clasped between your thighs. You seem cold. You shiver and look out the window, as if at nothing.

I only noticed you as we were queuing to board. Your khaki uniform stood out and the colour almost shone into my eyes. I couldn’t help but notice the two tickets in your bag - inward and outward journey. Two six-hour flights both on the same day? Only four hours apart? You must be going to see someone.


Read what happened next here.