The Elements: A Novel

Aaron Umber leaves the bathroom of the Sydney airport early in the morning, ready for a 40th birthday trip. At first, he cannot find his son, Emmet, and panics, having become more protective of him as he aged. Emmet is now 15, a moody teenager, and does not want to go on this trip. As Aaron panics, an off-duty police officer stops and offers to help, though she walks away when Aaron tells her that Emmet is a teen.

Emmet reappears, having followed Aaron into the bathroom. He wants snacks and convinces Aaron to go to one of the kiosks. Aaron looks at a copy of Furia Flyte’s new book. He loves her but she does not love him. The cop comes up beside him to look at the book, and Emmet sneaks over to tell her she should buy it, knowing it will upset Aaron. When they board, Aaron realizes that Emmet has not wished him a happy birthday.

It is a 13-hour flight to Dubai, which Emmet is used to, having visited his mother, Rebecca, there many times. He is becoming resentful of these trips though, angry that Rebecca relocated. Aaron watches as Emmet settles in, scrolling through his phone, which Aaron searched recently.