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Halfway through the flight, a flight attendant stopped by. She bent slightly and asked in a calm voice, “Ma’am, could I speak with you for a moment? Just in the back?”
My heart leapt. Had I done something wrong? Had the father complained? I followed her down the narrow aisle, anxiety pounding in my chest.
When we reached the galley, she turned to me with a reassuring smile.
“Hey,” she said gently. “You didn’t do anything wrong. I just wanted to say that. You reserved that window seat, and it’s okay to keep it. People sometimes forget that setting boundaries doesn’t make you unkind.”
Her words took me by surprise. The tightness in my chest loosened, and I felt a wave of relief wash over me.
She smiled again. “You’d be amazed how many people apologize for things they don’t need to. Enjoy the view—you earned it.”
I thanked her, my voice barely steady. As I walked back to my seat, I realized how much that simple reassurance meant.
It wasn’t about a seat anymore. It was about permission to stand firm—without guilt, without apology.
The Air Between Us
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