Gemotions

The flickering airport monitor mocked Amelia with its red-lettered delay. Her niece's wedding, a moment she'd been meticulously planning for, was slipping away with every passing minute. A knot formed in her stomach, a familiar tension. She reached for her phone, bracing herself to call the caterer, to salvage whatever she could from the disaster. Then, a small, weary voice interrupted. A young boy, maybe seven, sat beside her, clutching a stuffed dragon. “Are you okay, lady?”

Amelia’s shoulders relaxed slightly, the tension easing its grip. She offered a tired smile. “Just a bit frustrated, little man. My flight’s delayed.” He offered her a half-eaten lollipop. She accepted it, a sudden sweetness spreading through her. “That’s very kind of you.” They spoke for the next hour, and by the time the flight was called, the panic had subsided. The delay, she realized, had given her the gift of perspective.