As Grace heads home after visiting her mother, she’s surprised to find herself seated next to her husband’s ex-wife on the flight. What starts as small talk quickly spirals into a revealing conversation—Clara opens up about her recent contact with Oscar. By the time they land, Grace is left questioning everything, including the future of her marriage.

I never imagined that something as routine as a seat assignment could unravel my entire relationship. Yet here I am, sitting alone in an airport coffee shop, wondering just how much I’ve missed.

It began when I boarded a flight after spending time with family. I was ready for a peaceful journey—just me, a downloaded novel, and a gin and tonic. I buckled in, fully prepared to tune out the world.

Then a woman sat down beside me. She smiled in that polite, distant way we all do on planes, and I smiled back, expecting a quiet flight.

But then I noticed the name on her boarding pass as she tucked it into the seat pocket: Clara. A name I knew all too well from the many conversations I’d had with Oscar about his past.

I was sitting next to my husband’s ex-wife.

It only took a few side glances to confirm it. I’d seen their old wedding photos when I moved into Oscar’s house. There was no doubt—it was her.

“You can look through them before I pack everything away into the basement,” he said. “I’ve gotten a bunch of boxes. I’m just waiting for Clara to let me know if she wants them before I destroy them, you know?”

“I get it,” I said. “Despite your marriage ending, this is a core memory in your lives.”

I remember how Oscar looked at me as I said that, like he wanted to say more but just didn’t. He smiled and walked away into the kitchen.

Now, sitting next to Clara, I was certain that it was her. I made an effort to keep my cool, not wanting to acknowledge the fact that I knew exactly who she was. But then she turned to me and said my name, shyly, as if testing it out in her mouth.

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