When I stirred, the room was still. The low hum of the plane engines first reached my ears. My body felt surprisingly rested, and the exhaustion from earlier reduced to a faint ache. The blanket I didn’t remember pulling over myself rested snugly against my shoulders, providing warmth against the cool cabin air.

But something was off. A sharp, ragged inhale broke the stillness again. I definitely wasn't imagining it.

I sat up abruptly, my senses clearing out their sleepy fog to pay ...