The sky is silver. It is the day before our journey begins, my first international trip in three and a half years. The bags are almost packed, the housework done. Tomorrow afternoon we go to the hotel near the airport to stay a night before our early departure.

For so long through the pandemic I have dreamed of this moment, of a long flight across the seas to another country. In my mind I’ve imagined cruising high above the Earth, that escape from the house and everyday life. I pictured the excitement of setting off on the journey.

Yet now that reality approaches I’m back to negative thoughts, to anxiety and fear of flying. I know intellectually that it should all be okay, but I just don’t feel it.

So now that everything is done I’ll try to relax and focus on the positive. Take one step at a time and trust it to all work out.