The 20-Minute Delay That Turned a Flight of Strangers Into Family

“I’m just… so tired,” she whispered.

“I know,” I said.

She wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand, angry at herself for crying in public.

“They’re going to die and I’m going to miss it,” she said, voice trembling. “And people are going to tell me it’s okay, and it’s not okay.”

I didn’t offer a false comfort. I didn’t say “everything happens for a reason.continue reading …