…and firmly said, “Ma’am, please return to your assigned seat now. If you refuse, I’ll have to notify the captain.” Lia scoffed, tossing her hair like a diva mid-tantrum, but the hint of panic in her eyes betrayed her. With exaggerated drama, she stood up and stomped back to her seat at the back of the plane, muttering something about “ruining love.”

Dave slumped in his chair, arms crossed like a sulking teenager. For the first time in hours, he was quiet. The crumbs stopped falling, the coughing miraculously vanished, and the volume on his tablet? Magically turned off. I settled back into my seat, savoring the silence like a five-star meal.

About ten minutes later, the guy across the aisle leaned in and whispered, “That was legendary.” I just smiled, popped in my earbuds, and finally—finally—enjoyed my flight.