[ WP ] The person sitting closest to you ( or if you 're alone , the last person you saw ) suddenly touches your shoulder and reveals a major , life-changing secret .

Pressing a small button on my phone, the time displayed with a small flash of dull white light. Time does n't pass in airports, it merely takes a stroll, and decides when it wants to move further. There was row after row of hard plastic seats, some being used as a final pitstop before the long haul, others as a bed. One would think that a place as bustling and volatile as an airport would be fun. Diversity should be fun and unique, but at an airport everyone is the same shade of gray. 
 
 It's simple math really, given an infinite amount of time, one will eventually have to sit next to a total and complete stranger. However, one can double the time of probabilty before this happens by sitting on an end seat. With only one adjacent seat to worry about, that gives me twice as much protection against the awkward tension of having to share. 
 
 In the moment between me being a mathmatician and a smartass, that so called stranger plopped his fat ass down next to me. Without missing a beat, the man looked at me and smiled. 
 
 `` Hello, I'm Geoff, and you?'' He said as he stuffed his pack under the seat. 
 
 My hand shot to my lips and began to pick at the chapped skin. 
 
 `` I'm Martha, Geoff is what you said?'' 
 
 `` Aye, what flight will you be on?'' 
 
 It was n't long until a small piece of skin found itself between my fingers. 
 
 `` Flight 138 to Zurich, and you?'' 
 
 `` Wow, same flight. You know, you really should n't pick those pretty lips of yours, it's rather unsightly you know?'' Geoff said without hesitation. 
 
 This man, Geoff, had flaps of fat hanging over his ripped blue jeans, a blue winter coat with tweed elbow pads, horribly worn sneakers, three chins, and zero dentists, and here he was, pointing out my flaws. 
 
 `` Oh, I'm sorry, I did n't even realize I was doing it'' This was mostly true. 
 
 `` Oh, my old mother used to have the same problem, we had to tie her up and tickle her until she was crying!'' 
 
 While he was laughing at his own joke, I yanked a fat piece of skin off my lip, most likely drawing blood. 
 
 The pudgy faced man, Geoff thought this was terrible funny, and oddly, I laughed because he did. 
 
 I did n't look at the time after we began to talk, only at his wide smile and baby teeth. Smiling and laughing seemed to be the only thing Geoff was good at. Stories of him working at a printing company getting ink everywhere, trying his hand at a newpaper route, only to have hit a rut that both `` ended the virginity and the motivation of 13 year old me''. 
 
 Within a short time, the familiar drone of an underpaid woman announced the arrival of our plane. 
 
 `` Will you sit with me, Martha?'' He asked seriously, the smile leaving his face. 
 
 Caught off guard by the tone in his voice, I too, stopped smiling. 
 
 `` Of course, Geoff, you're a lovely man, and I would be honored to.'' I smiled at him, trying to bring the warmth back into the conversation. 
 
 In an instant, the porker of a man was taking the lead of the direction, leading me by example. Despite his large size, managing his way through the crowd seemed to be a talent of his. 
 
 Once aboard the plane, we took our seats, I took the middleseat, as he took the edge. A small dark skinned woman was looking intently through the window next to me, I decided not to bother her. 
 
 Not unlike a prairie dog, Geoff was looking up and down the plane aisle, looking for something, what it was, I'm not sure, but I decided against asking him. The nervousness in his demeanor returned, as did my anxiety of flying. 
 
 Pick. Pick. Pick. 
 
 After everyone was seated, Geoff did a headcount, counting by two's all the way down both rows of the plane. 
 
 `` Everyone is seated and accounted for, we should be taking off soon.'' 
 
 As if on cue, the static sound of a radio announced the beginning of the flight. 
 
 `` Gooood morning ladies, and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We will be taking off now, if everyone could please follow the directions above you and fasten your seatbelts, it would do me a great pleasure. Keep your arms and legs inside the ride, and thank you for flying with us today.'' The static ended 
 
 It's embarrassing to admit, but I held Geoff's hand when the plane left the ground. He did n't seem to mind, he only smiled and looked straight ahead. 
 
 Looking through the window from the middle seat is always annoying, almost as annoying as the person with the window seat, those smug bastards know they won. Turning back around, Geoff too, was looking out the window, down at the sea of rolling white clouds. 
 
 `` What are you thinking about so intently?'' I laughed 
 
 `` Oh, Just saying goodbye.'' He said absent mindedly 
 
 `` Do n't be too sad, if you have never been to Germany, you're going to love it.'' 
 
 He laughed again, this time it sounded hollow, distant even. 
 
 `` No, no. Not that kind of goodbye.'' 
 
 Geoff tapped me on the shoulder and leaned in to whisper something in my ear. 
 
 `` I have a bomb underneath my seat. I'm glad you decided to sit next to me, you wo n't know what hit you.'' 
 
 It was then, he clicked the detonator in his pack.
