Samira Calehr wrapped her arms around her 11-year-old son, who'd been oddly agitated for days, peppering her with questions about death, about his soul, about God. The next morning, she would drop Miguel and his big brother Shaka at the airport so they could catch Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, the first leg of their journey to Bali to visit their grandmother.
Her normally cheerful, well-traveled boy should have been excited. His silver suitcase sat in the living room, ready to go. Jetskiing and surfing in paradise awaited. But something was off. A day earlier, while playing soccer, Miguel had burst out: \"大众How would you choose to die? What would happen to my body if I was buried? Would I not feel anything because our souls go back to God?\"大众
And now, the night before his big trip, Miguel refused to release his mother from his grasp.
He's just going to miss me, Calehr told herself. So she stretched out beside him and held him all night.
It was 11 p.m. on Wednesday, July 16. Miguel, Shaka and the 296 other people aboard Flight 17 had around 15 hours left to live.
———
The Boeing 777 tasked with shepherding its passengers from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, held the promise of beginnings and endings for many on board: the thrill of a new adventure or dream vacation for some, and the comfort of going back home for others.
It was love and a fresh start that had lured Willem Grootscholten aboard. The burly, 53-year-old divorced former soldier from the Netherlands — a gentle giant of a man — had sold his house and was moving to Bali to build a new life with his darling Christine, a guesthouse owner.
He'd met her by chance on a trip to the Indonesian island last year.
Christine, who like many Indonesians has only one name, had heard through a friend that some guy had fallen off a cliff and hurt his back. She told her friend to take him to a traditional healer she knew. The next day, Grootscholten called Christine to thank her.
They connected over coffee. Grootscholten had to return to Amsterdam, where he was working as a bouncer at a pot-selling cafe. But the two stayed in touch online, and their relationship blossomed. On New Year's Eve, he surprised her by showing up at her doorstep. He stayed three weeks.
The father of Christine's two children, 14-year-old Dustin and 8-year-old Stephanie, had died six years ago, and they quickly bonded with Grootscholten, calling him \"大众Daddy.\"大众 The four stayed in touch online. Almost every day, they shared meals via Skype by placing their iPads on their tables during dinner for Christine's family and lunch for Grootscholten.
In May, Grootscholten returned to Bali to celebrate Christine's birthday and told her he wanted to spend the rest of his life beside her. She drove him to the airport on June 3 and kissed him goodbye.
It would be their last kiss.
———
For 29-year-old New Zealander Rob Ayley, Flight 17 marked both the end of a month-long European trip and the start of a new career.
Life hadn't always been easy for Ayley. Diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome as a teen, he'd struggled to understand others' emotions. At 16, he dropped out of school and hopped from job to job — fast food, horticulture, cheese-making. He flitted between obsessions, from cars to drumming and eventually, to Rottweilers, after his parents bought him a puppy.
Along the way, he fell in love with a woman named Sharlene. They married and had two sons, Seth and Taylor. Fatherhood changed him; he was determined to provide for his family. He enrolled in college to study chemical engineering and decided to turn his Rottweiler fixation into a profit by becoming a breeder.
That dream prompted Ayley to book a trip to Europe with his friend Bill Patterson, a kennel owner. Ayley's goal: to look at Rottweilers and hopefully bring back breeding dogs to New Zealand.
The duo spent a month driving all over Europe, visiting kennels and grabbing a coffee, beer or meal with the owners. They delighted in speeding along the German autobahns in the small Peugeot they'd rented.
Finally, it was time to come home. On Wednesday night, Ayley sent his mother an email:
\"大众It's been a long, long journey. We've seen the world's greatest Rottweilers, we have established contacts, and made life-long friends, but now I'm just ready to come home. I hope all is well, if we don't talk before hand, I will see you on Saturday. Lots of Love Rob\"大众
Flight attendant Sanjid Singh was looking forward to getting home, too. He hadn't originally been scheduled for Flight 17, but he wanted to get back to Malaysia a day early to visit his parents in northern Penang state. So he asked a colleague to switch shifts.
Only five months ago, a similar last-minute switch had saved his family. His wife, also a flight attendant, had agreed to swap assignments with a colleague who wanted to be on board Malaysia Airlines Flight 370. The plane vanished en route to Beijing.
The near-miss rattled Singh's parents, who fretted about the pair continuing to fly. But Singh was pragmatic. \公众If I am fated to die, I will die,\"大众 he said. \"大众You have to accept it.\"大众
On Wednesday, he called his mother and told her the good news — he'd nabbed a spot on Flight 17 and would be there on Friday. Take care of yourself, he told his mother.
After they hung up, she said a prayer for Singh, the way she always did.
———
Family was also the reason Irene Gunawan had booked a seat on Flight 17.
She was headed to an annual family reunion in the Philippines: a major event held at a resort that would include specially-designed shirts, drinking, singing and dancing. And 53-year-old Gunawan would — as always — be the star.
Gunawan was the light and laughter of her clan. The fifth of six children, the bubbly, music-loving girl had wanted to see the world outside her sleepy rural village. After high school, she moved to Japan to sing and drum in a band. There, she met Budy, a fellow band member.
They toured Europe together, playing music and eventually falling in love. They married and settled in the Netherlands, where she gave birth to Daryll and Sheryll, now 19 and 14. Gunawan took up office work, and sent money to her family in the Philippines. Budy worked as a supervisor at Malaysia Airlines in Amsterdam.
Gunawan flew back occasionally to the family's neighborhood, called \公众Heaven,\"大众 in the town of Pagbilao, outside Manila. At reunions, she belted out songs by Norah Jones and Diana Ross. When neighbors heard the music, they knew she was in town.
This year, the couple and their two children were flying to Pagbilao, and Daryll was bringing his DJ equipment. They'd planned to leave earlier, but a typhoon was lashing the Philippines, so they delayed their trip until it subsided.
By chance, they nabbed seats on Flight 17.
Albert and Maree Rizk weren't supposed to be on that flight either.
Every year, the fun-loving 50-somethings from Melbourne, Australia, went on a month-long vacation with friends. They had hopscotched the globe, from Thailand to Fiji to Europe.
This time, the Rizks had nearly skipped the trip due to family commitments. Family came first for Albert, a real estate agent, and Maree, parents of two and beloved fixtures in their community.
A change of plans freed them up to join their friends, Ross and Sue Campbell, but they weren't able to snag a seat on the Campbells' return flight. So they bought tickets for the same route, a day later: Flight 17.
The Rizks and the Campbells had become more like family than friends since Sue and Maree met at a mother's group when their now-grown children were babies. They had a ball traveling through Italy, Switzerland and Germany. It felt like they'd laughed for a solid month. Together, they realized a lifelong goal: climbing to the top of the Klein Matterhorn in Switzerland.
On Tuesday night, the four gathered at an Italian restaurant for a final meal. They reminisced about their latest adventure — one of their best — and made plans for a reunion back in Australia. On Saturday, they would get together to feast on the delicious Dutch cheese they'd bought, drink wine and pore over their vacation photos.
The four headed back to the hotel, exchanged hugs and retired to their rooms.
Some friends were surprised that the Rizks were willing to fly Malaysia Airlines, after the disappearance of Flight 370. Maree's stepmother, Kaylene Mann, had lost her brother and sister-in-law in the disaster.
Albert's buddy of 30 years, Jack Medcraft, got in a friendly dig: Why Malaysia Airlines?
\"大众Lightning never strikes twice,\公众 Albert replied.
They burst out laughing. The nonchalant explanation had a double meaning.
Albert's house had been struck by lightning last year.
———
Thursday, July 17, dawned warm and sunny in Amsterdam.
Before leaving his house for Schiphol Airport, Grootscholten called Christine and the children for one last Skype chat. He was so excited, he began to dance.
\"大众Daddy's flying to see you!\"大众 he told the kids. \"大众We will be together forever!\"大众
Meanwhile, Ayley was struggling. Patterson, his Rottweiler business partner, had flown out Wednesday, so he had to get himself to the airport — and it was not going well. \"大众Missed the airport bus,\公众 he wrote to his wife on Facebook. \"大众Waiting for the next one.\"大众
Back in Malaysia, Singh's excited parents awaited their flight attendant son's arrival. His mother had prepared his favorite dishes — spicy prawns, blue crab curry, roast pork and vegetables.
Irene Gunawan couldn't wait to get home to Heaven to see her own family. She asked her sister-in-law to make that syrupy custard cake she loved. Gunawan's daughter was eager to stop at Jollibee, a popular burger chain.
Samira Calehr and her friend Aan had ushered her sons onto the train to the airport. They were joking and laughing, excited to spend time with their grandmother in the mountains of Bali. Shaka, 19, had just finished his first year of college, where he was studying textile engineering, and promised to keep an eye on Miguel. Their other brother, Mika, 16, hadn't been able to get a seat on Flight 17 and would travel to Bali the next day.
At the check-in counter, Calehr fussed over her boys' luggage. Shaka, meanwhile, realized he'd forgotten to pack socks. Calehr promised to buy him some and send them along with Mika.
Finally, they were outside customs. The boys hugged Calehr goodbye and walked toward passport control. Suddenly, Miguel whirled around and ran back, throwing his arms around his mother.
\公众Mama, I'm going to miss you,\"大众 he said. \公众What will happen if the airplane crashes?\"大众
What was this all about? she wondered.
\公众Don't say that,\"大众 she said, squeezing him. \"大众Everything will be OK.\"大众
Shaka tried to reassure them both. \公众I will take care of him,\公众 he said to his mom. \公众He's my baby.\"大众
She watched the two boys walk away. But Miguel kept looking back at his mother. His big brown eyes looked sad.
Then he vanished from view.
———
They all converged at Gate G3.
Singh and his fellow flight attendants finished their preparations. The announcement finally rang out. It was time to board.
Miguel and Shaka made their way to their seats in the first row of economy. Grootscholten was in the same row, two seats to their left. He'd just changed his Facebook cover photo to an image of Schiphol's air traffic control tower.
Farther back, Ayley settled into his seat. Against all odds, he'd made it. The anxious flier had shot one final message to his friend Patterson: \公众Gidday mate, leaving Amsterdam now. Great trip, not looking forward to the plane.\"大众
Up front, Albert and Maree Rizk slid into the first row of business class. Budy Gunawan sat down next to Maree. His wife Irene and their children settled in a few rows behind them. They'd been among the last to check in.
Irene, still worried about how her family was coping with the typhoon, sent one last text to her sister-in-law: \"大众Hehehe Lov u, turning off cellphone, time to take off...take care always, you may get hit by falling trees.\"大众
She was on her way to Heaven.
———
Flight 17 took off around 12:15 p.m. on what should have been an 11 hour and 45 minute flight.
It lasted two hours.
———
The bodies began to fall. The phones began to ring. The confusion erupted, the hearts broke. And the twists of fate or happenstance that brought these people to this plane on this day unfurled.
In New Zealand, Ayley's frantic family began sending him messages, hoping his email about missing the bus meant he'd also missed the flight.
\"大众Your booked plane has been blown up, literally,\"大众 his mother Wendie wrote. \"大众So wherever you are, whatever mess you're finding yourself in, we'd be delighted to hear that you missed your flight. ... We love you heaps and heaps and we just want to know you're alive my darling.\"大众
In Australia, the Campbells had just arrived when they heard that a Malaysia Airlines plane had been shot down over Ukraine. Fearing the worst, they rushed over to the Rizks' house to check on their kids. And for the second time in five months, Maree's stepmother learned she'd lost a loved one to a Malaysia Airlines disaster.
In Bali, Christine prayed. \公众Hope you will be fine... ohhhhhhhhhh GODDDDDDDDDDDD... PLEASEEEEEEEEEE!!! I beg You...\"大众 she posted on Facebook.
And in Amsterdam, Calehr had just finished buying Shaka's socks when her phone rang. It was her friend Aan. \"大众Where are you?\"大众 he screamed. \公众The plane crashed!\"大众
She made it home just in time to faint.
———
They grapple now with the what-ifs, the astronomical odds, the realization that the world they knew has turned alien in a blink.
In the Philippines, the Gunawan family home has grown quiet. Irene is gone, and with her, the community's joy.
Friends stop by to offer condolences and pray. Irene smiles out of an old picture on an altar ringed by candles. A videoke machine and microphone she bought on her last visit lie idle in the corner.
Her best friend, Zenaida Ecal, is furious. What does she want as punishment for those who stole Irene?
\公众What is worse than death?\公众 she replies.
In Malaysia, the food Singh's mother had so lovingly prepared remains in the fridge. She cannot bear to look at it.
The parents cannot comprehend how something as simple as a swapped shift could have proven so kind to their daughter-in-law and so cruel to their son.
\"大众It saved her life,\公众 Jihar Singh says. \"大众Now my son has saved someone else's life.\"大众
In New Zealand, Wendie Ayley's work as a hospice nurse has given her a different perspective. She knows the end must come for everyone, including her son, who missed the bus but not the flight.
\公众When he died he was 30,000 feet closer to God. He would have known he was dead, and opened his wings,\"大众 she says. \"大众I believe his first thought would have been, 'This is awesome.'\"大众
In the Netherlands, Samira Calehr thinks about how her baby boy seemed to sense that his time on earth was running short. She imagines the futures that will never be: Shaka's dream of becoming a textile engineer, gone. Miguel's dream of becoming a go-kart race driver, gone.
How could he have known? How could she have known?
\"大众I should have listened to him,\"大众 she says softly. \公众I should have listened to him.\公众
在阿姆斯特丹附近的别墅里的寝室，米格尔•潘杜维纳塔问他妈妈：“妈妈，我可以抱您吗？”
萨米拉• 卡勒赫拥抱了她11岁的儿子米格尔。米格尔最近几天莫名地焦躁不安，不断问妈妈关于死活、灵魂与上帝的问题。第二天上午，她送米格尔和米格尔的哥哥沙卡到机场搭乘马来西亚航空MH17到达吉隆坡，转而前往巴厘岛探望他们的祖母。
她的儿子一向爽朗、四处旅游，本来应对这次旅行十分愉快。他银色的旅行箱已经在客厅准备就绪。巴厘岛这个人间天国的飞艇冲浪正在等他。但是事情有些不对。一天前，米格尔在踢足球的时候溘然叫喊道：“你会如何选择去世亡？如果我被埋葬，我的身体将会若何？是否我将因灵魂回物化主而觉得不到任何东西？”
而现在，就在长途旅行的前一晚，米格尔牢牢拥抱着他的母亲，久久不愿松开。
卡勒赫见告自己，他这样一定是舍不得我。以是她一整夜都抱着儿子。
这是7月16日，星期三，晚上11点。15个小时往后，米格尔、沙卡和马航客机MH17上其他的296名搭客坠机丧生。
———
这架波音777飞机从阿姆斯特丹飞往马来西亚吉隆坡，为搭客带去动身与归途的希望：对一些搭客来说，动身便是踏上新的旅程，开启梦幻假期的激动心情；对付另一些搭客而言，归途，便是回到温暖舒适的家。
搭客威廉•大斯科尔滕搭乘飞机，去追求他的爱情和新生活。53岁的他是一位高大结实的退伍军人，离过婚，买了屋子准备搬到巴厘岛和他的心爱之人克莉丝汀开启新生活。他们是在去年到印度尼西亚的海岛旅游时相遇的。
克莉丝汀就和其他多数印尼人一样只有名，没有姓。当时在旅游的时候，听到一个朋友说有人从峭壁上摔下，背部受伤。她见告朋友，请他帮忙将这个人也便是大斯科尔滕带到她认识的一个传统治疗师。转天，大斯科尔滕打电话给克莉丝汀表示感谢。
他们相约喝了咖啡，就此相识。之后，大斯科尔滕动身返回阿姆斯特丹，他在阿姆斯特丹是一位咖啡馆的保安。但是之后他们俩通过网络联系，爱情之花由此绽放。新年伊始，大斯科尔滕悄悄到克莉丝汀家，给了她一个惊喜。之后在印尼一呆便是三个星期。
克莉丝汀有两个孩子：14岁的达斯汀和8岁的斯蒂芬妮，两个孩子的父亲六年前去世。两个孩子很快就和大斯科尔滕相熟，管他叫“爸爸”。他们四个之后也一贯在网络上保持联系。他们险些每天都用iPad放在桌上，通过Skype软件分享克莉丝汀一家的晚餐和大斯科尔滕的午餐。
五月，大斯科尔滕回到巴厘岛为克莉丝汀庆生，并见告她他愿用余生与其相伴相随。6月3日，克莉丝汀送他去机场，并深情吻别。
这便是他们的末了一吻。
———
对付29岁的新西兰人罗伯•艾力来说，马航MH17既是为期一个月欧洲之旅的终点，也是职业的新开端。
艾力的生活并非一帆风顺。他在少年期间就被诊断出患有阿斯伯格综合症，理解别人的感情有障碍。16岁时，他辍学，之后换了一个又一个事情，从快餐店到园艺工再到做奶酪。他对许多事情都曾经痴迷过，从汽车，到打鼓，末了他父母给他买了一只小狗之后，他又爱上了这种罗特韦尔犬。
后来，他爱上了一个名叫莎琳的女人。他们结了婚，生了两个儿子，赛斯和泰勒。做了父亲后，艾力变了很多；他决定要养活家庭。他考入大学，学习化学工程，并决定成为一位喂养员，这样他可以将自己对罗特韦尔犬的痴迷变成生财之道。
为了这个梦想，他踏上欧洲之旅，拜访他的朋友比尔•帕特森，这是一位养狗场场主。艾力的目标是找到好的罗特韦尔种狗，并带回新西兰。
二人一个月内游遍欧洲，拜访养狗场，和场主喝喝咖啡、啤酒，吃用饭。他们租了一辆标致小车，在德国的高速公路驰骋，心情畅快。
终于，他准备踏上归途。7月16日晚，艾力给妈妈发了一封邮件，写道：“漫长的旅途终于要结束了。我们找到了天下上最好的罗特韦尔犬，我们将保持联系，并成为生平的好朋友。但是现在，我准备回家了。我希望统统都能顺利。如果没有另行奉告，你周六就能见到我了。爱你，罗伯”
乘务职员撒吉德•辛格也准备回家。他原来订的不是MH17的航班，但是他想提早一天回家见他在马来西亚槟城北部的父母。以是他托一位同事和他调班。
就在五月前，一次改换航班拯救了他的家庭。他的妻子，也是一位乘务职员，答应了一位同事调班哀求，没有登上马航MH370客机。MH370在飞往北京的途中失落去联系。
这次失落联事宜让辛格的父母惶惶不安，小两口还得接着飞。但是辛格却很实际，他说：“如果我命中注定拜别，那就拜别吧。人得接管命运的安排。”
7月16日，他打电话给妈妈，奉告好：他调班到了MH17客机，周五就能相见，希望妈妈保重。
放下电话，辛格的妈妈做了一次祷告，就像往常一样。
———
艾琳•古纳万由于家庭搭乘了马航MH17航班。
她前往菲律宾参加一年一次的家庭聚会，这个盛大聚会在度假胜地举行，人们要穿着分外定做的衬衫，饮酒、唱歌、舞蹈。53岁的古纳万一定会像往常一样成为聚会的明星。
古纳万是家族的焦点，总会给大家带来快乐。她是家里六个孩子中的老五，阳光，爽朗，喜好音乐，一贯希望能从宁静的村落庄去表面的天下看看。中学的时候，古纳万去日本组建乐队，卖力唱歌和打鼓。在日本，古纳万结识了巴迪，乐队中的一位成员。
他们一起环游欧洲、一起玩音乐、终极坠入爱河。他们在荷兰结婚并定居，生了两个孩子，19岁的达利尔和14岁的谢丽尔。古纳万找了一份办公室的事情，挣的钱里的一部分寄回菲律宾的家。巴迪成为马来西亚航空公司在阿姆斯特丹的一位主管。
古纳万偶尔会飞回菲律宾马尼拉附近的帕格比劳镇的家，她管那里叫做“天国”。在家庭聚会上，她深情演唱诺拉•琼斯和戴安娜•罗斯的歌。邻居们听到歌声，就知道古纳万回家了。
今年，古纳万夫妇与两个孩子准备一起回帕格比劳，达利尔还带上了他的DJ设备。他们原来操持早点出发，但是由于台风席卷了菲律宾，他们推迟了出行操持，直到台风拜别。
就这样，他们意外地搭上了马航MH17航班。
阿尔伯特•利兹克和玛丽•利兹克原来也不打算搭乘这一航班的。
每一年，这一对喜好玩乐的50几岁的夫妇都要从澳大利亚墨尔本出发，踏上为期一个月的探友之旅。他们的旅程遍布环球，从泰国到斐济再到欧洲。
这一次，这对夫妇差一点就不用踏上旅程，由于他们要顾及家庭。阿尔伯特是一名房地产代理商，而玛丽是两个孩子的母亲。他们深爱着这个社区，对他们来说，家庭摆在第一位。
但是由于操持有变，他们可以和他们的朋友罗斯•坎贝尔和苏•坎贝尔一起走，但是他们却没能和坎贝尔一起搭上同一架返程班机。以是他们买了一天后同一个路线的MH17航班。
利兹克夫妇和坎贝尔夫妇十分友爱，与其说是朋友，不如说更像一家人。苏和玛丽在一个妈妈团体中相识，他们的孩子也都还小。他们一起环游了意大利•、瑞士与德国。那一个月仿佛欢笑一贯不断。他们一起定下了一个目标：他们要一起登顶瑞士的小马特宏峰。
7月15日晚，他们四人聚在意大利的餐厅，一起享用这趟旅程的末了一餐。这趟旅程是他们最好的旅行之一，他们一同回顾，并操持回到澳大利亚要再相聚。他们原来操持7月19日晚上一起聚会，享用他们买的美味的荷兰奶酪，一起饮酒，一起欣赏旅行的照片。
他们四人回到旅社，相互拥抱，回到各自房间安歇。
一些朋友对他们在马航MH370客机失落联一事之后还乐意乘坐马来西亚航空公司的飞机而感到十分诧异。玛丽的继母，凯琳•马恩就在那次事宜中失落去了哥哥和丈夫的姐姐。
和阿尔伯特有30年交情的好兄弟杰克•梅德科拉夫特友善地开他玩笑：为什么选马航？
阿尔伯特回答：“电闪无二次”。
他们都笑了。这次不经意的阐明现在看来却有另一层意思。
阿尔伯特的屋子去年被闪电击中过。
———
7月17日，星期四，阿姆斯特丹的清晨阳光和煦。
大斯科尔滕在离家前往史基浦机场之前，用Skype给克莉丝汀以及两个孩子打了末了一通电话。他太愉快了，跳起了舞。
他见告孩子们：“爸爸要飞来见你们啦！
我们要永久在一起！
”
同时，艾力就不怎么顺利了。他的罗特韦尔犬买卖伙伴帕特森7月16日就提前飞走了，以是他要自己去机场，路上很不顺利。他在脸谱网(Facebook)上和妻子写道：“错过机场大巴了。只好再等下一班”。
辛格的父母在马来西亚激动地等待他们的空乘儿子回家。他的妈妈做了他最喜好的菜——辣虾、咖喱螃蟹、烤猪肉和蔬菜。
艾琳•古纳万等不及要回家，要回到“天国”与家族团圆。她请她的妹妹做了她最爱的糖浆乳蛋饼。古纳万的女儿愿望着能去菲律宾很受欢迎的汉堡连锁店“快乐蜂”。
萨米拉•卡勒赫和他的朋友安陪她的儿子上了机场快轨。他们开着玩笑，对付能够去巴厘岛的山里陪他们的祖母感到十分开心。沙卡刚刚上完大学一年级，学的是纺织工程专业，他答应会照顾好米格尔。他们另一个兄弟米卡，今年16岁，没能遇上马航MH17，只能隔天飞去巴厘岛。
卡勒赫在登机手续办理柜台忙着办理她儿子们的行李托运手续。这时，沙卡创造他忘却带袜子。卡勒赫答应给他买几双，让米卡带去给他。
他们终于到了海关之外。孩子们抱了抱妈妈，和妈妈作别，朝出境护照检讨处走去。米格尔溘然转头，跑向妈妈，抱住妈妈。
他说，“妈妈，我会想你的。如果飞机失落事的话会怎么样呢？”
卡勒赫心想：“为什么会这样？”她紧抱着孩子，说：“别说这话。统统都会顺利的。”
沙卡来安慰他们俩，他和妈妈说：“我会照顾好弟弟的，他便是我的宝贝”。
她看着两个孩子渐行渐远，但是米格尔一贯一直转头看看妈妈。他那大大的棕色眼睛写满了难过。
随后，他消逝在视线中。
———
所有人都来到G3登机口了。
辛格和他的同事完成了准备事情。广播终于响了，是时候登记了。
米格尔和沙卡坐在经济舱的第一排。大斯科尔滕也坐在第一排，坐在他们左边的第三个座位。他把脸谱网个人主页的封面照片换成了史基浦机场塔台的照片。
艾力坐在后面，经历了路上各类不顺，他还是顺利登机了。发急的他给朋友帕特森发去了末了一条信息：“好兄弟，我要离开阿姆斯特丹了。旅途会统统顺利，不用来接机”。
阿尔伯特和玛丽坐在头等舱的第一排。巴迪•古纳万坐在玛丽阁下。他的妻子艾琳和孩子们坐在后面几排。他们是末了几个办理登记手续的搭客。
艾琳还在担心台风对家里人的影响，她发了一条短信给她的妹妹发了一条信息：“嘿嘿，爱你啦。我要关机了，准备起飞。还是要小心，树可能会砸到人”。
她正在飞往“天国”。
———
马来西亚航空公司MH17航班于12:15起飞，航程估量耗时11小时45分。
但是统共才飞了两个小时。
———
罹难者坠落；电话铃响不断；混乱爆发；心碎蔓延。是命运，亦或是意外事宜将这一天这些人带到这架飞机，也便是在这一天，命运或意外降临。
在新西兰，艾力的家人猖獗地给他发信息，希望能够收到他关于错过机场大巴进而错过航班的。
他妈妈写道，“你订的航班客机爆炸了。以是，不管你在哪儿，不管你碰着什么麻烦，我们都希望你错过了这个航班。亲爱的儿子，我们十分十分爱你，我们只想知道你还活着。”
在澳大利亚，坎贝尔一家刚到家就听到了马航的一架客机在乌克兰被击落的。他们想到了最坏的结果，便冲到利兹克的家看看他们的孩子的情形。而且，这是五个来玛丽的继母听到的第二个关于她的深爱的亲人在马航空难中丧生的。
在巴厘岛，克莉丝汀一贯在祈祷。她在脸谱网上写道，“希望你能安然...噢！
上帝啊！
我求求您！
”
在阿姆斯特丹，卡勒赫刚刚买到了沙卡的袜子，她的电话就响了。是她的朋友安打来的，安在惊叫道：“你在哪里？飞机坠毁了！
”
她刚一到家就晕倒在地。
———
家属们现在感情仍旧十分不稳定，总是在说“如果……就好了”这种话，在计算着被坐飞机失落事的概率本该当很小，并且意识到他们的天下在一瞬之间便完备不同。
在菲律宾，古纳万家里寂静无声。艾琳走了，同样带走的，是家族的快乐。
朋友们纷纭前来哀悼，并为艾琳祈祷。艾琳的一张老照片里被放在祭坛上，周围插满烛炬，照片里的她依旧笑颜残酷。她上次带来的卡拉OK机和麦克风摆放在角落。
她的最好的朋友，泽娜伊达•艾卡尔非常愤怒。对付那些带走了艾琳的人，她想要怎么惩罚呢？
她回答道：“还有什么比去世更厉害呢？”
在马来西亚，辛格妈妈做好的适口的菜肴还放在冰箱里。她乃至不看看一眼。
老两口实在无法理解，在调班这件大略的事情上，为什么对儿媳妇这么好，却对自己的儿子如此残酷。吉哈尔•辛格说：“儿媳妇被救了一命。现在我的儿子救了别人的命。”
在新西兰，温蒂•艾力的救援院护士的事情给了她其余一个视角。她知道人终有一去世，她儿子也不例外。儿子错过了机场大巴，却没错过飞机。温蒂说：“他去世的时候，他在三万英尺的高空，离上帝这么近。他知道他去世了，他会展开翅膀的。我相信这会是他的第一个动机。这样想就太棒了。”
在荷兰，萨米拉•卡勒赫在想着，她的宝贝儿子彷佛觉得到自己在世间时日无多。她想象着永久不会到来的未来：沙卡成为纺织工程师的梦想消逝了。而米格尔成为卡丁赛车手的梦想也是烟消云散。
他怎么会知道的呢？她又怎么会知道呢？
她低声说：“我该当听他的话的。我该当听他的话的。”
（译者 陈迪BFSUMTI 编辑 丹妮）
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