I smiled back, feeling a little shy, yet invigorated by the spontaneity of it all. “Heading out,” I replied, the words tasting sweet on my tongue. “I’m Linda, by the way.”“David,” he offered, extending his hand. “First time traveling alone?”
“Well, first time in a long while,” I admitted, shaking his hand. I felt a warmth in his grip, a kind of reassurance that I hadn’t felt in a while. As the plane began to taxi, I noticed the excitement bubbling in my chest. It felt liberating.
David and I chatted as the plane took off, and the world below became a tapestry of clouds and sky. He was a retired history professor, traveling to visit old friends in Germany. We shared stories about our families, our lives, and our dreams. For the first time in what felt like forever, I was sharing my own story, not just listening to someone else’s.
