"Sir, just take off your hat, shoes and belt. You can have them back once you've gone through the scanner," I tell the middle-aged man for the third time.

"What happened to this country? I fought in three world wars," he complains.

“Sir, there have only been two world wars.”

“I fought in three, my father died for this country,” he gets louder.

"I don't want to do a cavity search, and I know you don't want that either," I pull a pair vinyl gloves from my back pocket.

He grumbles and throws his unmistakable red hat into the bin alongside his New Balance shoes and belt with the ridiculous buckle with “Don’t tread on me,” emblazoned into it. I know he didn't have anything illegal, he's too old, too senile and too privileged to be trying to smuggle anything. He still has to follow the rules here. It used to be said that you don't mess with the IRS, but if you're rich enough they just leave you alone. Nobody, messes with the TSA, doesn’t matter who you are.

"Let me guess, you're going to make me take off my shoes too," the woman behind the man asked.

"You're damn right," I respond, fed up with the whole ordeal.

On the surface, she's just a random woman who thinks she's too important to follow rules. But, if you look past her, almost through her, you can see what most humans in this city can't see. You can see she's a high elf, and despite being conquered by humans centuries ago and forced to use a human disguise to participate in society, they're still assholes. I had a teacher that was a high elf, he could never shut up about how they were the most magical, and a human could never match up. Even all these years later I think about how stupid that was. Especially because it was at a school for students with magic abilities or other things that were deemed unnatural by society.

Sometimes I wish whoever was keeping the veil up and keeping everything that goes bump in the night away would just quit. Let the world see the Orcs and Goblins. Maybe the High Elves aren’t so uppity with a vampire breathing down their neck or a werewolf taking a bite out of their ass. Maybe the guy you were as jerk to last week casts a spell. Wishful thinking. No matter how hard I’ve tried to leave that world behind, I’ll always be a part of it. Once you’ve been awakened to the world outside of normal constraints you can’t really go back.

“Ci-Ci, take your break,” I hear one of my managers call from behind me.

“Thank God,” I pass by with a smile and hurry towards the break room.

Growing up, I never believed the old stories. Hobbits and dark woods, giant eagles, and all that crap. Well, they weren’t exactly crap. Things didn’t play out like the books, but most of it was real. When I was seventeen, I was saved by an angel, or as close to an angel as can be. I had been walking across an old wooden bridge that was falling apart and it just happened to finally decide on crumbling that day. I didn’t even have a chance to grab something. But Justin was there, I never touched the water, he held me in his arms and flew me to safety. He had wings, actual wings, it was a huge shock to my system. At the time, I thought I was going crazy, but he kept checking in on me. Guided me through the whole awakening process.

Soon I learned he was a Nephilim, half angel, and half human, or so the story goes. I never found out how true it was, and he didn’t seem interested either. Things like that were more his brother’s speed. Justin was everything I ever wanted in a man with the added bonus of wings and strength no normal person could ever hope to match. I spent the whole summer getting integrated into his world. Suddenly I was looking right at Dwarves and Orcs, some of which I had known for years. I chose to live in his world that summer, it was infinitely more interesting. Next thing I know, I was learning magic and studying creatures I thought were just made up. Then we decided to make a career out of hunting and capturing those same creatures.

I’ll be able to see him again soon. Until then I’ll keep eating all his favorite foods. I don’t even like roast beef, but I need to have a roast beef sandwich every week, with pepper jack cheese, because it was his favorite. This Halloween I should be able to resurrect him. I’ve waited for three years, dreaming of the day I’d be able to hold him in my arms again. I’ve got everything that I need to bring him back, even if it has cost me a small fortune. It’ll all be worth it. We had, no, have, the kind of love that can’t be broken by time or even death. Our vows said until death do us part, but when you’re aware of the magic that really circulates this world, that isn’t true. Death can’t even keep true love apart.

“Crazy out there today right,” Carol the supervisor takes a seat as I finish up my sandwich.

“I know right, but here’s something crazier. I need a few days off,” I give her my best smile.

“You know we’re short on staff right now.”

“I know but I got some family business to take care of,” I try to look sad.

“Can’t do it. We just don’t have enough staff.”

“You don’t even know when yet.”

“But I know we’re short,” she argues.

“I never ask for days off,” my charade has ended.

“That’s why you’re my favorite.”

“But you don’t give me days off, or a pay raise or even snacks. I’d settle for a Zero candy bar every now and then.”

“Sorry,” she says and exits.

“Carol, don’t do this to me,” I call after her.

Whatever, I learned a long time ago that you can’t be loyal the job because the job isn’t loyal to you. They would fire me the moment I screwed up. I can’t offer them some form of honor. I’ll clean out my locker today on my way home. They had their warning. PTO, prepare the others. I’m out of here. They can take me back when I’m done or they can try to find someone else to do the job. Not that many people are willing to fly down to Atlanta for training and not get paid for it. I can always find another job, and with Justin back in the picture, it won’t be TSA.

Just hang on a little longer Justin. I’ll be able to bring you back soon, then this job won’t matter. We can travel the world like we had planned to, maybe have some kids and start a family.