First Flight (Alternate Version)

        In an empty apartment, illuminated by a single, bare light bulb, a young girl sits chewing her hair.  A soft, elegant snow has been falling most of the day. Not enough to truly disrupt routine, but the city still sparkles with golds and blues as evening comes. She stares out the window, trying to follow individual flakes as they float past. Nearby a young man is rolling up two sleeping bags and stuffing them into a large case with the last of their clothes.
"Daddy, is it scary?"
The man looks up. "What's that, hon?"
"Is flying scary?"
He smiles and pauses his packing. He wants to comfort her, but is unsure how. Of course flying can be scary, but it can also be thrilling.  As she looks back he finally speaks up. "No, not really. When the engines start rumbling and we take off, maybe a bit. But once we're in the sky you won't even notice."
"Really?" she asks, not assured.
"Yeah, really. We won't see much of England with the snow, but we'll get above the clouds. Then you'll see all the stars, more than we've ever seen down here. And when we get close to New York, you'll get to see the whole city before we land."
The young father closes and clasps his suitcase. His daughter gathers up her own small bag as he checks the lights and locks. Downstairs, he leaves the keys at the front office and signs away the apartment. They don't intend to return.
Outside, a taxi has been waiting. They pile into the back, possessions thrown in the trunk. The driver, impatient but uninterested, starts for London International Airport. The glittering flakes still hold the girl's attention as they fly past.
"Will mom be waiting for us?" she asks.
"Yeah, just like we always wait for her."
"That's good."
They continue in silence, daughter's eyes fixed out the window as she imagines what it will be like to fly for the first time. Father's eyes remain closed. His thoughts wander to the woman he married. The job that always keeps her away, that nearly tore their marriage apart, has asked her to move to New York. That leaves him only two options. Stay in London as a single father, or move with her and try to patch their marriage back together. But, that is something to worry about across the ocean.
Before long the dancing lights of the airport appear in the sky ahead, the dull roar of distant turbines fills the air. Their taxi pulls to a sudden stop just in front of the main entrance. Luggage is removed and the fare is paid. The pair are quickly engulfed in the crowd of travelers within. Slowly but steadily dad leads his daughter through the sea of bodies. They find the gate just as boarding begins.
When everyone is finally aboard, the massive engines roar to life. The young girl grabs her seat and looks around, startled and afraid. As the plane accelerates she is shoved back. She tries to return her eyes to the gentle snow, but it is now a million violent streaks of white. She closes her eyes and clutches her father's hand, a small comfort against the force and noise. He said it wasn't really scary, but he was wrong. This is almost more than she can handle, she shakes with the rumbling of the aircraft.  She has no idea what to be afraid of, but fear is all she feels. The airliner rockets into the dark clouds above.
Her father pays no heed to the noise he sits within. His thoughts still wander ahead to New York, trying to come up with the right words to say when finally facing his wife again. The situation is her fault, she puts career ahead of family. If it still doesn't work, there will be no going back. Dad can only hope the U.S. is the right place for his daughter. With a sigh he turns to the window, thankful for the view.
The daughter's eyes are still clamped shut when her father shakes her arm. The pressure of acceleration has subsided and the roaring engines are dying to an almost comforting rumble. Dad points across her to the window.
Outside, her snow is gone, but the view that replaces it is just as distracting. Below them an ocean of darkness says they are still above the swirling clouds of snow. Above, however, blaze billions of stars. Each one clear as diamonds and sparkling as the same. A night sky dominated by the intricate colors of the milky way and the white glow of a massive moon, pockmarked but beautiful in its place. Used to the light and fog of the city, the bright contrast is astounding to her young eyes. Until now she was tempted to hold her father a liar. Takeoff was terrifying, but this new view makes the whole ordeal worth it. She plasters her face to the window, lost in imagination.