“I spoke to a couple of people.”
Gently removing my daughter’s headphones, Lisa said to her, “There’s a couple who would love for you to have their window seat now.”
Emma looked at me with wide eyes.
I smiled through tears and nodded.
“Go ahead, sweetheart.”
I mouthed a thank-you to the couple as they stood to let us in.
They simply nodded and smiled.
“We’re happy to help,” the man said.
I smiled through tears.
***
Emma pressed her face to the glass.
Her small hand splayed against the window as though she were trying to touch the sky itself.
“Mommy,” she whispered, “the clouds are like pillows!”
I laughed through tears that hadn’t stopped coming.
***
After landing, Captain Brown met us at the cockpit door.
“The clouds are like pillows!”
He formally introduced himself, then pinned tiny golden wings onto Emma’s shirt.
“She’s a natural,” he said.
Then, more quietly, to me, “You’re doing a wonderful job with her.”
I squeezed Emma’s hand as we walked toward the warm ocean.
And for the first time in two years, I felt as though I could finally exhale, knowing good people were willing to have my daughter’s back.
