Vignettes from a trip to my hometown

Nine nights, three flights, and alllll of the emotions

The guy next to me on the airplane is kind. He says “bless you” when I sneeze. He points out an interesting cloud. When I put on my noise-canceling headphones, he leaves me alone without preamble.

He also asks why I’m traveling. “My sister-in-law's bridal shower,” I reply. He's going to Milwaukee to meet his girlfriend’s family for the first time. (They just visited his in Puerto Rico.)

I am going home for my sister-in-law’s bridal shower. It’s not a lie, merely a slight omission: easier this way. Who wants their seatmate to answer honestly? What would that even look like?