A long-haul flight in economy is never an appealing prospect but this one felt especially tough. I was leaving California after the death of my father to return to Australia, where I live. I was exhausted, emotional and prone to bursting into tears. It was always hard leaving my birthplace, friends and family behind, and this time I was also contending with the loss of my beloved dad.
I was desperately hoping I might have a spare seat next to me on the plane so I could get some sleep, or at least a little privacy. There would be no such luck. When I checked in, the desk staff told me the flight was completely full; worse still, I was in the very last row. Mine was the aisle seat, right beside the toilet and the galley – the busiest, most public place on the plane, when what I really needed was peace.
When I boarded and saw my seat, I really fell apart. Next to me was a very large, bodybuilder-type guy, who was already spreading into my seat. Overwhelmed, I immediately burst into tears. “Screw this!” I thought.
He just looked up and patted the seat, reaching into his bag to hand me a small packet of tissues. As I sat down, he motioned for me to rest my head on his big, beefy shoulder and said, “Mama, sleep” in heavily accented English.
He draped a blanket around me and I quickly drifted off, waking up close to home. Those were about the only words we exchanged – he asked no questions, instead offering quiet comfort.
When I first saw that man, I made the snap judgment that this wouldn’t be a comfortable situation. Instead, he was the loveliest person I could have sat next to. He made my flight home far more tolerable than it otherwise would have been, easing my transition through grief. More importantly, he also gave me faith that people still engage with the world around them in generosity and empathy.
What is the nicest thing a stranger has ever done for you?
If you’re having trouble using the form click here. Read terms of service here and privacy policy here
