It's just a little turbulence. Nothing to worry about.

The airplane cabin hummed with the sound of the engines as the passengers settled into their seats. Sarah looked out the window, taking in the view of the clouds stretching out endlessly in every direction. She had always loved flying, the feeling of being suspended above the earth with nothing but air beneath her.

But this flight was different. It wasn't just a routine trip from one city to another. Sarah was on her way to visit her mother, who was ill and living on the other side of the country. She had been looking forward to the visit, but now, as the plane climbed higher and higher, she felt a growing sense of unease.

The man in the seat next to her noticed her discomfort and offered her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry," he said. "I fly all the time. It's perfectly safe."

Sarah managed a weak smile in return, but she couldn't shake the feeling of unease. She tried to distract herself by reading a book, but her thoughts kept drifting back to her mother and the uncertain future that lay ahead.

As the flight wore on, Sarah found herself becoming increasingly anxious. Every little bump and jolt made her heart race, and she found herself gripping the armrests tightly. She tried to tell herself that everything was okay, that she was just being silly, but the fear was hard to shake.

The man next to her noticed her anxiety and struck up a conversation. They talked about their jobs, their families, and their travels. The conversation helped take Sarah's mind off her worries, and she began to relax a little.

But just as she was starting to feel more at ease, the plane hit turbulence. It was nothing too severe, just a few bumps and jolts, but it was enough to make Sarah's heart race again. The man next to her put a hand on her arm. "It's okay," he said. "It's just a little turbulence. Nothing to worry about."

Sarah tried to nod and smile, but she felt like she was going to be sick. She closed her eyes and took deep breaths, trying to calm herself down.

When she opened her eyes again, she saw something that made her heart leap into her throat. Outside the window, she could see smoke pouring from one of the engines. She stared at it in horror, unable to look away.

The man next to her saw it too and grabbed her hand. "It's going to be okay," he said, his voice low and urgent. "Just stay calm."

Sarah tried to nod, but she was frozen with fear. The smoke grew thicker, and she could hear the sound of the engine struggling. The captain's voice came over the intercom, calm and steady. "Ladies and gentlemen," he said. "We've had a problem with one of our engines. We're going to make an emergency landing at the nearest airport. Please remain calm and follow the instructions of the flight attendants."

Sarah felt a surge of panic. Emergency landing? That didn't sound good. She gripped the man's hand tightly, her heart pounding in her chest.

The next few minutes were a blur. The flight attendants rushed through the cabin, shouting instructions and trying to keep the passengers calm. The man next to Sarah talked to her in a low, steady voice, reassuring her that everything was going to be okay.

Finally, the plane touched down, bouncing on the runway and coming to a stop. Sarah felt tears streaming down her face as the passengers around her erupted into applause and cheers. They had made it, but the relief was tinged with the knowledge that it could have been much worse.

As they disembarked from the plane, Sarah turned