The girl’s quiet sobs continued through takeoff, casting a layer of discomfort over the cabin. I felt it too — the tension, the judgment, the weight of being misunderstood.
Midway through the flight, a flight attendant approached with a warm smile and asked if I could join her at the back for a moment. My stomach tightened — had I done something wrong? But once we reached the galley, she surprised me with a quiet thank-you. She said that many people give up their boundaries even when they’ve made fair, thoughtful choices — and that it was okay not to. Her words were a balm I hadn’t known I needed.
In that moment, I understood something more deeply: holding your ground doesn’t make you unkind. Sometimes, it’s simply a way of honoring yourself. And often, when others adjust, harmony finds its way back in.
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