Chapter 5
A Stranger's Grace
Jessica marvels at the stranger's profound compassion. Why would someone so selfless care so deeply when her own mother's presence feels so uncertain?
The hum of the plane was a lullaby I didn't want to hear. It was the sound of distance, of separation, of a journey that felt far too long for a seven-year-old with a suitcase almost as big as I was. Florida. Mom. The words echoed in the cavernous space of my mind, each one tinged with a sharp edge of doubt. Would she be there? The question was a constant, gnawing ache, a shadow that clung to me even as the cabin lights dimmed and the steward, the angel in his crisp blue uniform, settled into the seat beside me.
He’d introduced himself as David, a name that sounded solid and safe, like a sturdy oak tree. He’d smiled, a genuine, crinkly-eyed smile that somehow managed to bypass my fear and land somewhere soft in my chest. He didn’t fuss. He didn’t ask too many questions. He just was. He was there. And in that moment, that was everything.
“Nervous, little one?” he’d asked, his voice a low rumble that vibrated through the seat.
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