I can't believe the nerve of that guy! He has no idea about what I've been through and he has no right to judge me. From the little information I provided, he should have been on my side. He should have seen there is only one problem and that is Nick.

But does he have a point? Is that why I feel myself growing hot with anger and frustration? I want to slip my jacket off, but it will take too much effort, especially as I'm pushing past people in this overstuffed coffee shop.

Nick doesn't notice me leave. I sigh in relief as I taste the cleaner air in the terminal. The smell of coffee beans follows me outside and I walk towards my gate to get away from it. I look up to the board with all the flight information on.

Flight 143 ... Delayed.

'Shit!' I mutter under my breath as I head towards the woman at the desk in Gate 11. She looks up and instantly recognizes me.

'How can I help you, sir?'

'The flight is delayed?' I ask. I want to sound furious but instead my voice comes out frustrated and desperate.

'The weather is not ideal flying conditions,' she explains politely. It's like she has no patience or feeling whatsoever. 'All flights are grounded until it clears.'

'Do you know how long that will take?'

She shakes her head. 'Unfortunately not but we will keep you updated. Do listen out for the announcements, I'm sure it will take no time at all!'

A voice surprises me from behind. I turn and dodge out of the way, noticing a woman speaking to the attendant now as if I hadn't been there just a second ago. 'The flight is delayed?'

The woman, with a plump man on her arm, attached to her like a dog on a leash, stops just inches from the attendant's face. She's taller than me and she's wearing a long, thick fur coat that almost covers her legs. Her hair is pinned up and tied to pristine perfection.

The attendant nods. 'Yes, I'm afraid so.'

'For how long?'

'I can't give an exact estimate at this time...'

'Surely my husband and I can board?'

'Nobody can board at this time I'm afraid...'

'But we are seated in first class! We are supposed to board first... we are supposed to board now! I can't handle another second waiting in this god-forsaken airport...'

'I understand that, I do, but until the snow stops falling, there's nothing I can do. I will update you on any progress. Please listen out for announcements.'

The woman shakes her head and spins around. 'Back to the lounge. Don't dawdle Frank!' She drags her husband right past me without a glance. I can understand her frustration but nobody can control the weather, as much as we like to have someone to blame.

My lower lip carries me to a nearby seat in the gate. There aren't many people sitting around. Nobody else looks worried, which worries me all the more. Why isn't there a panic? We could be grounded for hours – days, even! I have barely enough money left for a stick of gum never mind a hotel room for the night.

No doubt Nick would be set for the night should we be delayed for a day, but I'd rather sleep in the airport than share a room with him.

It's a weird feeling when you love someone so entirely that your every thought is consumed by them. It's an even weirder feeling when all of that evaporates and you realize your feelings weren't real. How can your own body lie to you like that?

Maybe Daxten was right, in some way. Maybe a lot of my issues are to do with me, not Nick. I should go back in the coffee shop and apologise for storming out, but I feel a little part of my pride sneak in. If anybody should apologize, it's him for being so insensitive.

I pull out my phone and turn it on. I connect to the airport's Wi-Fi and my phone goes crazy. Notifications pop up non-stop, forcing me to put the phone down for five minutes to allow them all to come through.

It's nice that so many people care. My mom has texted like fifteen times to make sure I landed safely. She's a worrier and I'm more than positive she's where I get my anxiety from. If I leave home for any kind of trip, even if it's to the next state for one single day, she worries. She makes it hard for me to grow up, perhaps making up for a lot of things she didn't do for me in the past.

I phone her so I can hear her voice. It might cost me a fortune on my phone bill but I don't care, it's been far too long since we last spoke. I can tell from the moment she picks up the phone she is so excited to hear I'm alive.

'When did you land? I've been trying to get through to you for ages!'

'Sorry, things have been a little crazy over here. My flight has been delayed due to weather. It's snowing, but it looks like it might clear up soon.'

'I'm just so happy to hear your voice. Have you had a good time?'

'I did... until Nick showed up at the airport.'

'Nick is there?'

'Don't act surprised! I have every right to think you masterminded the whole thing!'

I hear her gasp. 'Would I do such a thing?'

'Yes. You're probably the only person who wants us to get back together.'

'He's got money, that's all you need.'

'It's not all I need, mom.'

'We could really use it.'

'Could we?' I say in a bitter tone. 'Could we? Is that all a relationship is these days? Take and give? We may be in a bit of a rut financially, but you can't pimp out your own son in the hopes of scoring a fortune. Where is the love in that?'

'You do love fairy tales,' she says and I can imagine her face right now – eyes rolled up, head shaking – 'but don't forget reality while your head is up there in dreamland.'

'I've gotta go,' I say, already growing sick of the conversation. 'I love you.'

'I love you too and I can't wait to see you. I'll be at the airport to pick you up, okay?'

'Okay, bye.'

I put the phone down and cover my eyes with my hand. Family can be draining, especially overbearing mothers who think they know what's best for you. She wasn't always like this. I groan and rub my temples.

'Are you getting a headache, dear?'

I move my hand to see an elderly woman sitting opposite me. A sleeping man sits beside her and she pulls her hand from his so she can rummage through her bag.

'Kinda,' I reply. It wasn't until she mentioned it that I actually do feel the pain behind my eyes.

She hands me a packet of aspirin. 'Take some. It's no good having a headache when you're about to go on a plane. It will only get worse.'

'Thank you so much.' I grab the packet and take a couple of pills.

'Do you have water?' She asks.

I nod as I reach into my backpack to pull a bottle of water out. She smiles as I hand her back the packet. 'I appreciate it.'

'Oh, no worries at all.' She allows me to swallow the tablets before continuing. 'How are you doing?'

She's so friendly; it makes a nice change from the frosty reception I got from Daxten.

'I could be better, I guess. How about you?'

She nods. 'Oh, I'm fine. I always enjoy time to myself when my husband is asleep. Are you travelling with anyone?'

I shake my head. 'Well, I'm not supposed to be, but my... friend who isn't really a friend anymore is here and is on the same flight.' For some reason, I face a wall every time it comes to explaining who Nick is to me. I never know how people are going to respond when I say the word 'boyfriend'.

'Sounds complicated. I hope you two can work things out.'

'Me too.' I look around. 'If the flight is going to be delayed, I should probably eat something. Would you like some chocolate?'

I have so much chocolate in my bag, mainly cheap bars I bought in Cambodia. I open my bag and move aside some fairy lights (they're battery-powered and I couldn't resist), a book and some chocolate that feels squashed from the book.

'No, thank you, dear. Though you should have something proper to eat, not chocolate.'

I stop looking for a nicely-sized bar of chocolate and look up. 'Yeah, you're probably right. It might calm my stomach if it's filled with cooked food and not sweets.'

'Nervous?'

'Not a great flyer, which is strange considering I travel all the time, but I'm more a train kind of guy. Even boats are fine, as long as Kate Winslet isn't aboard.'

The woman laughs. 'Kate Winslet? I never understand you kids these days.'

'To be fair I don't understand myself sometimes.'

I close my backpack and swing it onto my back. I nod to the woman as I stand. 'Thanks again for the pills, I really appreciate it.'

'That's okay,' she replies. 'I'll see you on the other side.'

I wave goodbye as I walk out of the gate. I leave smiling and some of the anxiety dies away. Not even the prospect that I may not be able to afford any food worries me right now. I was really banking on those in-flight meals to satiate my hunger but it's too long to wait.

As I walk past the coffee shop, I open up my wallet to see barely anything in it. I shake it and only a small amount of coins rattle. I really should not have bought that gingerbread latte.