They mocked the woman in seat 22C—until two fighter jets aligned with her window, and a pilot spoke her name in a way that made the entire plane forget how to breathe.

Kayla’s phone snapped back toward 22C. Claire turned fully in her seat this time. The older woman with the bracelet stared without hiding it. Mark took two quick steps down the aisle like he had smelled smoke.

“What seems to be the issue?” he asked, though his attention was clearly on Olivia, not Greg.

Greg pointed at her. “She’s saying whatever this continue reading …