Gemotions

The announcement crackled through the speakers, a death knell to her plans. Her best friend’s book launch, the culmination of years of work, was happening tonight. She gripped her boarding pass so hard her knuckles were white. Her heart pounded, a frantic rhythm against her ribs. She was so close to arriving.

Then, a flash of recognition. A woman nearby was frantically searching through her purse. Her medication. She was out. Without hesitation, she offered the woman her own, an extra dose she carried for emergencies. The woman, with tears welling in her eyes, embraced her. As they waited for the delayed flight, the woman talked about her life, her health, her worries. The delay seemed less about what she was missing and more about what she had been given.