“Sir, she might just be overtired,” a flight attendant whispered gently, trying to offer reassurance without calling more attention to the family.
Henry nodded, but his mind was spinning. In the weeks since Nora’s arrival, life had changed in ways he had never anticipated. His wife’s passing shortly after the baby’s birth had left him with a newborn, a heavy heart, and a company to lead. He was still learning how to navigate all of it, often feeling like he was walking through fog. And here, in this quiet cabin, the fragile balance he had been trying to hold finally felt as though it might fall apart.
Then a voice from farther back in the plane called out.
“Excuse me, sir… I think I might be able to help.”
Henry looked up, startled. A teenager, likely no older than sixteen, stood in the aisle. He wore simple clothes and carried a well-worn backpack. Nothing about him suggested wealth or privilege. But what stood out most was the calm in his eyes. Even in this stressful moment, he radiated an easy steadiness that instantly softened the tense energy around him.
“My name is Mason,” the young man said politely. “I’ve taken care of my little sister since she was born. I might be able to soothe your baby if you’re comfortable with that.”
