As the flight attendant performed her pre-flight checks and greeted passengers boarding the aircraft, her mind was already preoccupied with the standard routine of her job. She smiled warmly at each traveler, pointing them toward their assigned seats while subtly scanning for any irregularities as part of her usual practice. But then, something caught her eye—something that made her heart skip a beat.
A man in a familiar jacket stepped onto the plane. At first, she thought she must be mistaken, but as the figure moved closer, her suspicion was confirmed: it was her husband. Her throat tightened. What was he doing here? She hadn’t mentioned that she’d be on this particular flight, nor had he mentioned any plans to travel. They hadn’t spoken that morning, but she assumed everything was normal, as it had always been.
Her smile remained plastered on her face, though her mind raced. She quickly went over the possibilities. Had he planned a surprise trip for her? Was this some sort of grand romantic gesture? But then, doubt crept in. Why had he not mentioned it? And why did he look so…off?
Her husband hadn’t noticed her yet. He was looking down, fiddling with his phone, seemingly unaware of her presence. He moved quickly toward his seat without the slightest glance in her direction, settling into an aisle seat near the middle of the plane. Something felt off. Very off.
Once the boarding was complete, the flight attendant hurried to the back of the plane to get a moment alone, her pulse quickening. Her mind flooded with questions. Why had he boarded the plane without telling her? Was he going on a business trip? Was he hiding something?
Unable to contain her curiosity and concern, she made a decision. During the in-flight service, she walked down the aisle, heart pounding, ready to confront him—discreetly, of course. But before she could reach his row, she froze.
There, seated next to her husband, was a woman she didn’t recognize. The two were leaning in close, whispering and laughing together. Her husband’s hand rested casually on the woman’s knee. The flight attendant felt a cold wave of shock wash over her. She had to steady herself on the drink cart to keep from stumbling.
Was this what she feared it was? Was he cheating? The very idea felt surreal, like a scene from a bad movie. The flight continued, but for her, time seemed to stand still. She debated confronting him then and there, but professionalism held her back. She had a job to do. The passengers were relying on her, and a mid-air scene was the last thing anyone needed.
When the plane finally landed, she resolved to wait. She would confront him later, away from the eyes of passengers and crew. For now, she had to remain calm, though her heart ached with the weight of betrayal.
As she watched her husband exit the plane, still laughing with the unknown woman, she felt her world shift. The moment of truth would come soon enough, but for now, she had to carry on—until she could no longer pretend.