I'm sitting at the airport watching people in the last minutes before their loved ones arrive or depart.

    A woman is running in circles trying to gather family members together for a 1 . When the final moment comes before 2, she wraps her arms around her son, giving him a 3 hug that should protect him until she 4 .

    I sit with a book in my hands, waiting for my turn to leave, 5 because the ones I love have a different 6 from mine.

    I think of other departures and arrivals. I 7 seeing my daughter. I wrapped myself around her as if she'd been 8 . That year she was in her first year at university, coming home for the first time.

    Today my flight is two hours late. When my flight is 9 called, I gather my book and luggage. 10 there is no one to see me off, I do not 11  to see where I have come from. 12, I think of my husband at work 13 if I have left yet.

    As I head towards the plane, I find myself 14  yet another arrival and departure. That year, my 91-year-old grandfather died. After returning from his funeral, I arrived at the airport 15. My husband of only a year was waiting at the gate to take me in his arms. Because of my tears, 16 was looking at us, but I didn't 17.

    Life needs the important 18  all the time. I wish that all the people who went on a 19 could come back to find someone 20 them. I also wish they could leave with someone to see them off.