Eyes in front of the mask.

Early morning. Missed flight.

Rebooked and rerouted. Charlotte, North Carolina to Denver, Colorado.

3-hour flight. Beside a stranger.

Slumped on the seat. Exhaustion prompted by the 4 a.m. wake up call.

Stranger says, “Can you help me?” 

I turn my head, look into the stranger’s eyes, and put on an invisible smile. “Of course!” 

Many firsts.

It was her first time flying. First time in an airport. In a few hours, she would see her first grandchild for the first time.

“Are you nervous, excited?” I asked. 

“I am all of it,” she responded.

Reassuring words from me. Then, sharing personal stories. 

Observing the expression in her eyes as we exchanged words.

The eyes in front of the mask began speaking to me. It was her only unguarded feature and I accessed their story easily.

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