The night in New York is never short of neon lights and noise, but for Ava Greene, everything tonight feels particularly overwhelming.
"So you're telling me, our three years of relationship mean nothing compared to her one month of novelty?" Ava gripped her phone, her voice eerily calm.
On the other end of the line, Elliot Rivera's voice came through, clearly impatient: "Ava, we're adults. You can't force matters of the heart. Lily and I are in true love, you should wish us well."
True love.
Ava almost laughed out loud. Three years ago, he said the same thing to her.
"Wishing you well?" She gently smoothed the hem of her uniform, "Then I truly wish you well — I hope she stays as calm as I am when you two break up."
With that, she hung up the phone.
Sitting in a bar named "Cloud Nine" in Manhattan's Financial District, Ava stared out at the brightly lit skyline. Yet, her heart was unexpectedly calm. Three years of love had ended so casually.
"Can I get you something?" The bartender, a young girl with sympathy in her eyes, asked. "If you're heartbroken, I recommend the 'Forget Me Not'. It guarantees a good night's sleep."
Ava shook her head. "Whiskey, on the rocks."
"Wow, hardcore." The bartender whistled. "You seem stronger than I thought."
"I just don't want to waste my tears on someone who doesn't deserve them." Ava took the glass and sipped it lightly.
The warmth of the alcohol hit her throat, sharpening her thoughts. Perhaps this breakup was a relief. Over the past three years, she had been settling — settling for Elliot's selfishness, settling for his dream of photography being more important than her, settling for his constant absence at crucial moments.
"Mind if I sit here?"
A low male voice came from beside her.
Ava turned to see a man in a deep blue uniform. Uniform? Her sensitivity to her profession made her recognize it immediately — a pilot.
The man had short, golden-brown hair, deep blue eyes, and well-defined features. The uniform on him gave off a certain austere vibe.
"There are plenty of empty seats at the bar," Ava replied coolly.
"But the view here is the best." The man pointed at the window. "Also, a beautiful woman drinking alone tends to attract unwanted attention. I think I can help you avoid some unnecessary flirtations."
Ava couldn't help but smile. "Are you sure you're not here to flirt with me?"
"If I were, I'd be saying cheesy lines like 'Your eyes shine brighter than the stars'." The man sat down beside her and gestured to the bartender. "Whiskey, like the lady's."
"What's your plan then?" Ava was curious.
"My plan is to say, 'Your uniform is beautiful. It must be from United Airlines. I bet you just finished your shift today.'"
Ava was surprised. Most people couldn't tell the difference between uniforms of different airlines, but this man recognized it immediately.
"You're in the aviation industry too?"
"Pilot." The man raised his glass. "Max Harrison. Friends call me Max."
"Ava Greene." She clinked her glass with his. "I just finished a flight to Los Angeles."
"Straight from a long-haul flight to the bar?" Max raised an eyebrow. "Looks like you've got your own issues to solve with alcohol."
"Ex-boyfriend cheated." Ava said bluntly. "Three years of love lost to a girl he's known for a month."
Max didn't show the sympathy or comfort she had expected. Instead, he said thoughtfully: "If you didn't see his true nature after three years, it means your judgment needs some work."
"Hey!" Ava glared at him. "Are you trying to comfort me?"
"I'm stating facts." Max took a sip of whiskey. "But from another perspective, discovering it early is better than finding out after marriage."
Ava stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly laughed. "You know? You're the first person who hasn't told me, 'He doesn't deserve you.'"
"Because those words don't help." Max turned to face her. "What really matters is, what are you going to do next?"
"Start over." Ava answered without hesitation. "Focus on my career, and stop wasting time on people who don't deserve it."
"Sounds like a good plan." Max nodded. "But are you sure you can do it?"
"What do you mean?"
"I've seen too many people say they're going to start over, only to return to their comfort zone after a few days." Max's eyes became sharp. "Change takes courage, not everyone has it."
Ava was provoked by his words. "You think I don't have courage?"
"I don't know." Max shrugged. "But I can offer you a chance to test it."
"A test?"
Max stood up and extended his hand. "Come with me."
"Where to?" Ava didn't move.
"If I told you, it wouldn't be a test." Max flashed a playful smile. "What do you think? Dare to take a chance?"
Ava looked at his extended hand, feeling a strange pull. Maybe it was the alcohol, maybe the urge to prove herself. She found herself reaching out and gripping his hand.
"Alright, I accept your test."
Max's hand was warm, his palm slightly calloused, probably from years of gripping the control stick. He held her hand with just the right amount of pressure — not too firm, not too weak.
"Wait." Ava suddenly thought of something. "You're not planning to take me to some weird place, are you?"
"Don't worry, I'm not a serial killer." Max laughed. "And with your skills, you probably don't need to worry."
"How do you know my skills?"
"Flight attendants undergo basic self-defense training, and your posture and walking style are quite standard. I can tell you've got decent physical ability."
Ava was secretly impressed. This man's observation skills were sharper than she had imagined.
They walked out of the bar, and the cool New York night air brushed against her face, easing the alcohol's haze. Max led her to the corner, where a seemingly ordinary black sedan was parked.
"Your car?" Ava asked.
"Rented." Max opened the door for her. "I'm not often in New York, so no need to buy a car."
The car was clean, with a faint scent of leather. Ava fastened her seatbelt and watched as Max started the engine.
"Can you tell me where we're going now?"
"Be patient, we'll be there soon." Max was focused on driving, his profile sharply illuminated by the streetlights.
The car weaved through the city, eventually stopping at a place she hadn't expected — JFK International Airport.
"Airport?" Ava looked at him, confused. "Are you taking me to catch a flight?"
"Sort of." Max got out and opened her door. "Come with me."
They didn't enter the terminal but instead walked to another area of the airport. Ava realized they were headed toward the private jet hangars.
"Wait, you're really going to fly me somewhere?" Ava stopped in her tracks. "We just met!"
"Trust me." Max turned to look at her, his eyes sincere under the moonlight. "I won't hurt you, I just want to show you something."
Maybe it was the sincerity in his eyes, maybe it was her inner desire for adventure, but Ava finally followed him toward a small private jet on the tarmac.
"Is this your plane?"
"It's the company's." Max inspected the plane's exterior. "I have a night flight qualification, I sometimes use it to unwind."
Ava stood at the door of the cockpit, feeling a nervous excitement like never before. As a flight attendant, she had seen countless takeoffs and landings, but never like this — with nervous excitement.
"You can still back out." Max looked at her. "Once we take off, we can't land until we're down."
Ava took a deep breath and stepped into the cockpit. "I told you, I accept your test."
The engine roared to life, its sound clear in the night air. Ava sat in the co-pilot seat, watching Max expertly operate the instruments. His movements were precise, every step flawless.
"Ready?" Max asked.
"Ready." Ava gripped the armrests tightly.
The plane began to taxi, gaining speed before it soared into the night sky. Ava felt the force of acceleration press against her back as the ground grew smaller, a strange feeling bubbling inside her — this was the courage to break the norm that she had always longed for.
"Now tell me, what is this test?" Once the plane was stable, Ava asked.
Max pointed outside. "Look."
Ava turned and gasped at the view below. The night sky above New York was breathtaking, a sea of lights below. The Hudson River snaked through the city like a silver ribbon, and the whole city stretched beneath her in an unparalleled beauty.
"So beautiful," she couldn't help but sigh.
"This is the test." Max's voice was quiet. "Only by leaving the ground can you see the broader world. Your choice earlier proved you have the courage."
Ava stared out the window, suddenly understanding. Her life had been like walking on the ground — safe but limited. And tonight, she had chosen to take a risk, to trust a stranger, to step out of her comfort zone.
"Thank you." She turned to Max. "I think I understand what you mean."
"No need to thank me." Max focused on flying. "Courage is yours. I just gave you an opportunity."
At 10,000 feet above the ground, Ava Greene felt true freedom for the first time. She didn't know where this unexpected encounter would take her, but she knew that from tonight onward, her life would be different.
And the mysterious pilot sitting beside her? He might just be the start of that change.