9500 Kilometers - (3) A New Companion

I actually arrived in Frankfurt as planned at 10:40 a.m. On time? With Deutsche Bahn? That had to be a really good sign. Since I had allowed extra time just in case, I still had to wait a bit before things got going.

I walked down the long corridors, pulling my turquoise rolling suitcase behind me. On both sides, shops lined the walls, one after another. Many high-end fashion brands, one store dedicated entirely to luggage, and a brightly colored shop full of toys, plush animals, and other little gift ideas. I browsed the entire store thoroughly and then decided to buy one of those fluffy teddy bears with a blue bow around its neck for Luna. That way, she’d still have something to cuddle after I was gone.

Behind the counter, at about shoulder height for the cashier, stood a row of Funko Pop figures. Some were from Harry Potter, others from Pokémon, and many more. It reminded me that Luna’s younger sister, Amara, had a few of these collectible figures and was really into Hello Kitty. When it was my turn, I pointed to one labeled number 89, the version holding a cake. She would definitely love it and be really happy about it.

After leaving the store, I tried to pack my purchases into my suitcase. The figure fit inside, but the teddy was way too big. No matter how much I pushed and shoved, there was no way to get it in. An arm or a leg always stuck out. So, the fluffy bear had to come along as carry-on luggage.

As the departure time approached, I joined the line for security. An employee looked at me, then at the teddy bear, and shrugged. I placed it on the conveyor belt and whispered, “Don’t worry, we’ll see each other again soon.”