10/01/2025
When I was 65, my daughter died in labor. Her husband left a note saying he was not cut out for parenthood and then disappeared, leaving Lily in my arms. That made me the sole guardian of my granddaughter. Pension money could barely cover a toddler, so I took odd jobs, fretted over every expense, and spent weekends at work. A friend invited me to meet her, promising sheâd look after Lily so I could rest. After a few weeks I had enough for a cheap ticket. On the flight, Lily burst into tears as soon as we sat down. I rocked her, tried feeding, but nothing calmed her. The air grew tense: eyes on us, a few snide smiles. My face flushed. The man beside me shouted, âFor heavenâs sake, SHUT THAT CHILD UP!â âIâm trying,â I whispered back. He scoffed, âYour attempts are useless. Did I pay to hear this racket?â Wiping a tear, I huffed, âPlease, Iâm doing everything I can.â He exploded, âIâm not taking this! Get rid of that parasite. Close yourself in the restroom if you must, but donât return until the crying stops!â Tears brimming, I scooped Lily to my chest and walked toward the lavatory. As I passed, someone intervened. Then Lily fell silent. Her small hand reached toward me, not away. My eyes lifted to meet hers. All the other passengers seemed to stop, their gaze fixed on us.