On the flight, attendants passed out nuts. The woman next to me said she was allergic and asked me not to eat mine. I explained that I needed something to eat with my meds but offered to move to the back. When I returned to my seat, I froze as I saw the little snack bag—mine—still sitting there unopened. On her tray was something else: a pack of cookies. She must have quietly asked the attendant for a substitute. When our eyes met, she gave me a small, almost shy smile.
“I thought about it,” she said. “I realized you needed them more than I needed to worry. So I asked if they had something else. I can’t imagine what it’s like having to take medication every day.” I felt my chest loosen. “And I can’t imagine what it’s like to live with allergies that can be dangerous. I guess we both had our reasons.” She chuckled softly, the tension easing. “Maybe we both jumped to conclusions.”
The rest of the flight shifted after that. What began with a misunderstanding became hours of unexpected conversation. She told me about her students—how every year she has to teach a new class about what to do if she has a reaction. I shared about my job, the new city I’d moved to, and the nerves I still carried. At one point, she leaned back and said, “It’s funny. I thought today would be just another routine flight.
Instead, I met someone who reminded me that strangers can be patient, too.” When the plane touched down, she turned to me before gathering her bag. “Thank you for understanding,” she said. I smiled. “Thank you for meeting me halfway.” As we walked off the plane in opposite directions, I realized something: it doesn’t take much to turn conflict into compassion. Sometimes, all it takes is a willingness to pause, listen, and remember there’s a story behind every request.