No Turning Back (1)

Linus met up with his family again after returning from the bathroom, spotting them gathered at the gate for their connecting flight from London to Sweden. It had already been a long journey, with the first leg from the US feeling especially tiring. Now, they just had this last stretch before they could finally head home.

He approached his parents and Klara, who were chatting quietly as they waited for the boarding call. His dad, Mats, was leaning back in one of the chairs, looking unusually calm for how long they had been traveling. Klara gave Linus a nod as he joined them, her expression showing she was just as ready to be home as he was.

"You were gone for a while. Everything okay?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah, just a long line," Linus replied, sliding into the empty seat next to her. He glanced at his mom, who was fidgeting with her phone, likely checking the flight status for the hundredth time. Marie had been on edge the entire trip, always double-checking every detail, as if something was going to go wrong.

Linus let out a tired sigh, stretching his legs out in front of him. "Feels like we've been traveling forever."

"I know," Klara agreed, stifling a yawn. "I can't wait to sleep in my own bed tonight. This has been fun, but I'm ready to be done with airports."

"Same," Linus mumbled. "But, it was nice getting away for a while. Something different."

He wasn't one to dwell on things, but the trip to the US had definitely shaken up his usual routine. And now, heading back to Sweden, he felt a sense of unease. It wasn't just the new school he'd be starting soon, though that was definitely on his mind. 

He hadn't really thought much about it—he wasn't one to stress about new situations, figuring things would just work out like they usually did. Still, the idea of walking into a whole new environment, with unfamiliar faces and expectations, gave him a little knot in his stomach.

But the biggest question lingering in his mind wasn't school—it was baseball. He hadn't even begun to process how the system would affect him. If it was even real.. He still didn't fully understand it, but it was there, quietly waiting for him to take the next step. He wondered if it really helped him improve, and if it did should he give baseball a serious try.

Before he could get too deep in thought, the announcement for boarding their flight came through the speakers, and his dad stood up, stretching his arms.

"Finally," Mats said, grinning. "Last leg. Let's get home."

The family gathered their things and filed into the boarding line, and soon enough, they were on the plane bound for Sweden. Linus settled into his seat next to Klara, his body already relaxing into the familiar routine of air travel. 

The plane ride to Sweden was quiet and uneventful. Linus leaned back in his seat, zoning out as the hours passed. Occasionally, he glanced at Klara, who had fallen asleep beside him, her head resting against the window. Linus tried to sleep but found his thoughts drifting, bouncing between the trip they had just finished and what awaited him back in Sweden.

He wasn't thinking about school, though he knew it was looming in the background. What took up most of his mind was baseball and what the next step would be. He had to figure out if there were any local teams, any places where he could practice and see if this thing was for real.

***

After landing, the family moved quickly through the airport, trying to grab their bags and head home as soon as possible. Everyone was worn out, and Linus could feel the weight of exhaustion settling over him. 

They stopped at a drive-thru for dinner, too tired to cook, and eventually made it home late in the evening. By the time they unlocked the door to their house and stepped inside, it was dark, and all Linus could think about was his bed.

"I'm too tired to deal with anything tonight," he mumbled as he tossed his bag onto his bedroom floor. He had planned to start his search for a local baseball team, but at that moment, the thought of it seemed like too much effort. The bed called to him, and he didn't resist.

***

Linus woke up to bright sunlight streaming through his window. He rubbed his eyes, feeling the grogginess of yesterday's travel fading away. His head felt clearer now, the dull ache from fainting back in the States finally gone. He glanced at the time. It was later than he usually woke up, but after the long trip, he wasn't surprised.

Yawning, he made his way to the kitchen, where he found his parents already having breakfast. His mom looked up from her coffee with a small smile as he entered.

"Morning, sleepyhead," she teased lightly. "Feeling better?"

"Yeah, I think so," Linus replied, sitting down and grabbing some toast. "Where's Klara?"

"She left for her apartment this morning," Marie explained. "Said she wanted to get home quickly and meet up with a friend later in the evening."

Linus nodded, not too surprised. Klara had her own place closer to her university, so it made sense she wouldn't stick around long after they got back. He took a bite of his toast, his thoughts already drifting to the day ahead.

After breakfast, Linus headed back to his room and started up his laptop. He typed "baseball teams in Sweden" into the search bar, not expecting much but to his surprise he found that there is a baseball league in Sweden called "Elitserien". There were even multiple teams listed close to where he lived. When Linus saw that he figured that there were no excuses anymore.