Part I Nick sat in the cockpit of the small Cessna, his fingers curling around the yoke as the plane vibrated with the steady hum of the engine. It was his seventh lesson with Colton, and despite the growing familiarity with the controls, his pulse quickened every time they took off. Flying had always been a distant dream—an impossible one, he’d once thought—but now, here he was, hurtling down the runway, lifting into the air like it was second nature. The thrill of it was undeniable. “Feeling good?” Colton’s voice crackled over the headset, cutting through the drone of the engine. Nick smiled to himself. “Yeah,” he said, letting the excitement seep into his voice. “It’s amazing. Every time we take off, it feels like I’m leaving everything behind.” Colton chuckled. “That’s the beauty of it. You get above the clouds, and it’s just you and the sky. You’re getting the hang of things, Nick. In three more months, you’ll be ready for that solo flight.” The mention of the solo flight made Nick’s stomach tighten with a mix of excitement and dread. Three months sounded both thrilling and terrifying. He was doing well, sure, but there was still so ...