Mercy settled into seat 14C wearing the red dress her husband loved, her heart filled with excitement. It was their twelfth anniversary, and she had secretly bought a ticket for Daniel’s evening flight. As a commercial pilot, Daniel had always made their anniversary special despite his demanding schedule. This year, he had told her the flight would be short, so Mercy imagined the surprise on his face when he discovered she had joined him. She pictured dinner afterward, his favorite smile, and the feeling that after twelve years, they were still choosing each other.

As the plane pushed back from the gate, Daniel’s familiar voice suddenly came through the cabin speakers. He welcomed the passengers and announced that a very special woman was traveling with them that evening. Mercy smiled, expecting her name. Then Daniel warmly named seat 15C. Mercy’s smile disappeared. Slowly, she turned toward the row behind her. A woman was sitting there, listening as Daniel spoke about how deeply he cared for her and how soon they would no longer have to keep their relationship private.