An impromptu marriage ceremony sent me and my trans-brother into a last minute frenzy.

Monday, I call to catch up with my Dad who lives in Las Vegas that opened him up to share his two year courtship with his lovely mystery lady. News that sent me into joy and form of duty. I respect his secrecy to keep what’s sacred to him hidden for any cause of dramatics.

Tuesday sent me scrambling for same day round-trip flight tickets while the incoming calls of advice’s come through from my ambitious Aunt and driven Dad eventually leading to swift solutions. Our dad’s family proves quick to help and make things happen for us proven by their heavy lifting comparative to moving mountains. I convince Darian to go with me like steel silver-linings I use to pull these kinds of strings. I know my role of insight urges the importance of perspective, understanding and closure apropos to this exact moment that may help seal a year’s divide within our dad’s family dynamic. DariYan tells me he will come as a form of support and I’m happy to share the news with our Dad’s family. Together with Sam, a devised plan comes together to end the night.

Wednesday morning — a whirlwind of schedules. Sam and Dari welcome the first day of their weekend come 8:00am, carpooling straight to our place thanks to their corresponding shifts and workplace; as I prepare for the start of my work week tomorrow day. As well, Auntie’s family offer their dues with her little’s in tow from their 5 hour layover from CA, Disney. Sure of our dad and his fiancee’s preparations towards ceremony, I assume a shortened sleep for us all. Dead set on mission impossible we all fulfill our roles to complete it.

Sam drives us to the airport with a 5 minute traffic delay with an anxious baby in the backseat. We arrive with 10 minutes to spare before boarding closes and print our tickets downstairs, proof of manifest regardless of how late our check-in was. Next steps, physically check-in at our Gate to receive our golden tickets. We rush to TSA with ID and printed proof of manifest in hand. I make it in with Yan just behind me, taking off my shoes and rushing through their security screening protocols. I look back and Dari has vanished into thin air leading to my 5 minutes of frantically searching, calling and watching the seconds pass. There’s no service.. the odds beginning to stack against this event. I approach a security agent for the whereabouts of my sibling, giving the descriptions of his profile and current situation. An agent who walks humbly towards the older agent in charge of identification, adds more minutes against us. In short strides, he comes to inform me that their agent sent Yan back to ticketing. That was where we just came from, a counterproductive call and a mistake of instruction on their part. I tell him I’ve no cell service to which he tells me that upstairs has better coverage. I run. Following the signage leading to our Gate because from there I’ll buy us some time back. I’m bolting as folks stare and laugh but to my advantage I arrive in the nick of time as Spirit agents are getting ready to close the doors. Two minutes before boarding commences, I give them my ticket while giving my whole spiel. It turns out that Yan could have gone through TSA regardless to no fault on our end yet departure is fifteen till, the next flight out being that evening and not an option. Through my tears I say we need to go to our Dad’s ceremony and I sit down dejected with my hands covering this look. When I call Yan and tell them about the news, he is rushing with a panic to their voice of where they are while the gatekeepers are throwing solutions to our conversation in real time. “Tell the TSA this”, “Use the mobile pass!” then the phone cuts out. I pray that Yan made it to TSA, the area of no cell service. “Well it looks like only one sister is going on this plane” as the agents get impatient but our Dad calls and I break down, solemnly apologizing for so many things; The ticket prices, our efforts and how I’ve failed. He responds calmly that “It’s okay because you’re going to make it. Don’t worry” while also hearing the Spirit gate agents huddled among themselves, “we bring the Spirit, this is OUR gate!” Now several are coming from the ramp and questioning just what is going on and I feel dismay for this spotlight of what should be normal status quo turned frenzy for us, but for them would seem like just a normal day on the job. We’ve only got five minutes until take-off and I’m telling them that my brother is coming, only now they can’t buy us anymore time. I walk to the middle of the terminal walkway staring down the long hall waiting for Yan to turn the corner any second, the agent who demanded the gate finally says “we need to close the doors now I’m sorry” until we see Darian booking a sharp turn. The agent yells “oh they’re running! And fast too!”. Now I’m being ushered quickly into the doors by another nice agent to quickly set foot onto the ramp to secure my seat. I walk onto the plane and see everyone’s faces of impatience and judgments. I check my phone for how much of a delay this caused everyone to see Darian rush into the plane while I help grab their belongings and stuff it under the front seats. It didn’t feel like triumph at first, Darian is crying and I give him a big hug with reassuring words to quell both of our beating pulses. Shortly after, he falls asleep and add my good luck charm to their water bottle. It’s just the start to our whirlwind Wednesday but by then we were met by the comforts of our Dad from a long time no see. After a grand time and a crazy experience we make our flight back home. I drop off my brother and am able to find the comfort of my bed midnight to tell the tale. I’d like to think everyone went to bed having tied up any loose feelings from time apart.