Around her, boarding continued. Overhead bins snapped shut. Someone laughed softly at a video. The young child squealed again several rows ahead, blissfully unaware. Around her, passengers slowly settled into their spots. A child kicked off their shoes. The cabin smelled faintly of coffee and fabric cleaner.
Curiously, Alyssa looked down at her boarding pass again. Her name was printed clearly. The seat number matched the one beneath her. Boarding zone correct. Gate listed. Time listed. Nothing looked altered or rushed. Everything about the ticket said she belonged exactly where she was sitting.