A Friend’s Accident Saved My Father from a Plane Crash

Sheldon only knows that his dad was supposed to depart on a business trip. However, when the day finally arrives and he decides not to go, realising that he was not on the downed airline due to fate, he gives thanks to his lucky stars.
Before my father’s cross-country vacation took an unexpected turn, I never would have imagined that a simple change in plans might mean the difference between life and death.

My Dad has been preparing for a business trip since he is going to sign a significant contract, which has all of us rather thrilled.

Then, we went out to supper the night before Dad was supposed to depart, and my parents excitedly described the sites he would visit in between work.

I was at home playing video games the following day when Dad came in carrying his baggage. By then, he was meant to be in the air, starting his journey. Then, though, he dropped the bombshell, forcing him to cancel his trip.
I couldn’t understand.

“Why?” I questioned him. “Did something at work come up?”
Upon wheeling his baggage to his bedroom, he simply shook his head.

“Sheldon, I’ll explain later,” he murmured. “I’ve got to make a phone call.”

It was at supper that he eventually informed Mom and me that he had decided to postpone the trip for a few days due to the presence of an old high school friend. It was logical. Whenever his friend Brian visited our hometown, we would frequently rearrange our schedules. Brian was the friend, according to Dad, who would always be around until the end of time.

And the main reason for this was because, during their high school years, Dad had associated with the wrong set. Brian helped him break free from that group by demonstrating to him that they could still have fun without engaging in underage drinking or recreational drug use.”I’m just going to hang around and spend some time with Brian by staying behind for a few more days. However, Adam departed today as planned. He will visit the business location that piques our attention and take notes.”
It also made sense, once more. My dad trusted Adam, his business partner, just as much as he trusted my mother. I therefore realised that the business arrangement was going nicely.

Later, when the terrifying reality was revealed, we were all sitting in front of the TV, eating brownies.

Tragically, the plane my father was supposed to board had crashed earlier that day. He sat alongside me, obviously broken, when the news broke.
His heartbroken realisation was that Adam, a close friend and business partner, was one of the unfortunate passengers.

“You’re sure Adam was on the flight?” Mom enquired.

“Yes, Rita. Dad’s eyes were a little empty as he spoke through gritted teeth, “We planned it together.”

My father suffered an incalculable emotional toll. Feelings of guilt, relief, and loss mixed together as he processed the knowledge that Adam was on the flight he was also meant to be on.

His boyhood friend dropped by the following day, and his mother prepared an extravagant meal. There wasn’t much we could do, even though we all knew my father wasn’t going to be friendly.
Since Adam wasn’t related to him, the airline was unable to provide any information, so he had contacted to try and find out as much as he could about him.

Anyway, Brian and I had a quiet dinner. He didn’t press the issue since he recognised my father’s mental state. He sat there and spoke to my mother and me politely, bringing my father up now and again.

He sat there and asked me about my plans for the remainder of the summer vacation and about school.

“You’re more than welcome to come back with me,” he replied. “Leave some daylight inside. I’ll give you a surf lesson!”

I would have consented and chosen Brian if the circumstances had been different because he was the closest thing I had to a godfather. However, there was no way I could leave my father with everything that was going on.

Then, word of a few passengers’ amazing survival surfaced two days later. Despite their severe injuries, they were still alive and at a hospital in a different state.

As luck would have it, Adam made it out alive. Additionally, he required surgery on both legs.

To be there for Adam after surgery and to express his regret for delaying the trip and letting Adam go on his own, my father made the three-hour drive to the hospital.

I am aware that my father is currently experiencing survivor’s guilt. He now dedicates all of his time to Adam, helping him heal as they work on their future company ideas as a diversion from Adam’s excruciating physical treatment.
We don’t know if my father would have been as fortunate as Adam to survive that horrific catastrophe, so I’m glad he chose to postpone his vacation. However, I can appreciate his need to be with Adam all the time as he recovers.
In the unlikely event that Adam needed to recover here, my dad even offered him our spare bedroom. Adam is single and his family is located on the other side of the globe.

We brought Brian over for supper before he departed, and we gave him the whole story—all the tiny bits. Brian brought up the subject of fate’s unpredictable nature and the thin line separating life and death with my father.

Adam lived with us temporarily once he was well enough to leave the physical therapy programme.
My father has chosen to live in the present and has accepted his survival as a second opportunity. These days, not everything is about work.

What about me? I was reminded to cherish each moment as I realised how fleeting life is. However, the more I consider it, the happier I am that my father decided to cancel that trip. Rather than battling for his life, he was safe and sound and enjoying brownies with me.

We now play a video game together every evening as a sort of ritual. More than that, though, he demands that we spend time together on the weekends and has promised that we will take family vacations twice a year. These days, even though Mom and I are unaware of his business decisions, Dad still talks to us about them to stay in touch.
Brian has promised to teach Dad and I how to surf, and he and his wife and mother have some new recipes to try. Next week, we’re on a two-week road trip to his residence.
And I have to give thanks to fate for that. Because a small alteration to the plans can start an entirely new series of events.