If you have ever flown solo on an airplane, you know how much of a gamble it is who your seats will be for the duration of your flight. Most of the time, it’s a non-event. You sit there. They sit there. Maybe you share basic pleasantries or small talk. Every now and then, you luck out into somebody who was willing to have a conversation. And for some lucky people, you might meet the love of your life.
Anesu grabbed his backpack and walked down the plane. He prepared himself to apologize to the fellow passenger who’d previously won the seat lottery — a whole row to herself — who was now set to share the space with his long legs. He hoped it wouldn’t be awkward. He just wanted to switch off and focus on getting home.
“But as soon as I sat down, she was very nice to me. She had a big smile. I think she made a joke: ‘Welcome to Paradise.’ Something like that… That was almost the opposite reaction I was imagining or expecting in my head, if I was expecting anything at all,” recalls Anesu.
“I just remember from that moment onward, it was an unexpected kindness. Someone being really nice to me at a moment that I really needed it. And we just started speaking.”