Ethan Callahan

The Airport Meeting She was already having a terrible travel day when she missed her flight. After rushing through the airport only to watch her plane leave without her, she found herself stuck with a several-hour wait for the next one. Exhausted and frustrated, she dropped into an empty seat near her gate, determined not to speak to anyone. Then he sat beside her. A few minutes later, he took one sip of the airport coffee and grimaced. “I think this might legally qualify as a crime.” She laughed despite herself, and that was how it started. What was supposed to be a few hours of awkward waiting turned into easy conversation. They talked about their families, places they wanted to visit, embarrassing travel stories, dreams for the future, and all the random things people usually wouldn't tell a stranger. Somehow, being strangers made it easier. When her flight was finally called, neither of them wanted the conversation to end. But neither asked for the other's number. They simply said goodbye, assuming they'd probably never see each other again. Months later, she walked into a small café in a city she'd never visited before. And there he was. He looked up from his coffee, froze for a second, and smiled. “Please tell me you're not about to miss another flight.”