They were on their first vacation since her husband’s passing. Everything felt peaceful… until her son squinted at a couple nearby and gasped, “Mom, look — that man looks just like Dad!” Her breath caught as she turned to see what he meant
Three years later, a colorful website ad flashed on her screen—a smiling woman holding airline tickets and a sign reading «Happy Family Vacation.» Emily sighed heavily and clicked «Buy.» It was her first concrete step toward a new chapter.
«Ethan!» she called out loudly, her voice stronger than it had been in years. «We’re going on vacation next week!»
It was time to stop being the tragic widow whose husband first betrayed her and then tragically died. Emily resolved to learn to live again. The week flew by in a blur of packing and preparation, and soon she and Ethan were standing at the airport, waiting to board. The last time she’d been in this terminal was years ago with James, back when they had sent Ethan to his grandma’s so they could fly to Miami for a romantic getaway.
Memories flooded back, but Emily pushed them away firmly. She gripped Ethan’s hand and headed to the departure gate. In the waiting area, she scanned the crowd out of habit: a group of teens laughed at a video on a phone, two elderly women flipped through newspapers. Nearby, a couple sat—a young woman, perhaps around twenty-five, and a man wearing a wide-brimmed hat. They were animatedly talking, though the woman seemed more engrossed in her phone than the conversation. Emily decided not to linger on them and checked her own phone.
When boarding was finally announced, Emily and Ethan took their seats.
«Ethan, this is your first real flight!» she said cheerfully, as he settled into the window seat.
«Awesome, Mom, it’s so cool we’re flying together!» he beamed.
Emily froze for a moment, the realization hitting her that this was indeed their first flight alone, without James. She sighed with relief, noting that Ethan didn’t remember his last flight when he was barely two years old.
Back then, James had held Ethan securely on his lap, and they’d watched the clouds together. Now, those memories were fading, and Emily resolved to move forward. She called a flight attendant, asked for a cup of water, and tried to close her eyes to sleep.
«Mom, I need the bathroom,» Ethan woke her, nudging her arm.
«I’ll take you,» she began to unbuckle.
«Mom, no! I’m big now, I’m eight! I can find it myself. The flight attendant showed us where it is. I’ll ask if I need help.»
She watched him confidently stride to the front of the plane, where a flight attendant kindly pointed him to the restroom. Assured he was fine, Emily relaxed and gazed out the window. The flight was smooth, cruising at altitude, when the captain’s voice interrupted her thoughts:
«Ladies and gentlemen, we are approaching a turbulent area. Please remain calm; it’s normal and will pass in a minute.»
No sooner had the announcement ended than the plane shook violently. Emily’s heart raced. She started to stand to check on Ethan, but a stern voice came from behind her:
«Ma’am, please sit down. You must stay seated during turbulence.»
The flight attendant was trying to guide her back, but Emily protested:
«My son’s in the bathroom, I need to get to him.»
«Don’t worry, he’ll be fine,» the attendant assured her firmly.
Just then, the bathroom door clicked open, and Ethan emerged. After a few steps, he slowed down, his eyes going wide. Then he hurried back down the aisle, visibly shaken. When he reached their row, he was pale and looked frightened.
«Mom,» he whispered, trembling.
«Did the turbulence scare you? It’s just a little shaking, nothing dangerous,» Emily said, reaching out to soothe him. But Ethan seemed not to hear.
«Mom… Dad’s on the plane with some lady,» he said quietly.
Emily froze, her blood turning to ice.
«Sweetie, you must be mistaken,» she replied quickly, letting him slide into his seat and buckling him in.
«No, it was him! His hair’s different, but it’s definitely Dad,» Ethan insisted with the certainty only a child possesses. Emily struggled to stay calm.
«You’re probably tired, honey. Why don’t you rest?»
But Ethan pressed on: «You don’t believe me?»
«I believe you saw someone who looks like him, but lots of people look alike,» she said, trying to sound confident for his sake.
Inside, her world was spinning off its axis. «How could this be?» she thought, desperately convincing herself Ethan was wrong. It would be easy enough to stand up and check, but she couldn’t bring herself to look. The thought of seeing someone who looked like her late husband terrified her. For the rest of the flight, she stayed rigid in her seat, avoiding even glancing at the aisle.
An hour and a half later, the plane began its descent and landed safely twenty minutes after that. Passengers rushed to grab their bags from the overhead bins. Emily took her time, disliking the chaos. But then, someone in a front row stood to retrieve their luggage—and she saw him. The man looked strikingly, heartbreakingly like James. His face was fuller, his hairstyle was different, but… there was that distinctive mole by his chin.
«It’s impossible,» Emily thought, unable to tear her eyes away. «No, it’s a dream, a ridiculous coincidence. I can’t believe this!»
The man donned his wide-brimmed hat, took a blonde woman by the hand, and joined the aisle. The hat obscured his face, and Emily, her lips pressed into a tight line, decided to stay put. She waited until most passengers had left to avoid crossing paths with him.
As they exited the plane, Emily spotted an airline employee at a check-in counter. Though the woman was busy handling paperwork for another flight, Emily approached her.
«Excuse me, can I ask you something?» she began.
«I’m sorry, I’m busy with another flight,» the employee replied politely but dismissively.
«I know, but it’s urgent,» Emily lowered her voice. «I think my husband, who disappeared years ago, was on this flight.»
The employee paused and glanced at Emily, then down at Ethan. Something softened in her expression, and she decided to bend the rules. Tapping at her screen, she asked:
«Last name, first name?»
«Wilson, James Michael,» Emily replied, holding her breath.
«I’m sorry, no passenger by that name was on this flight,» the employee said after checking the manifest.
«Thank you,» Emily whispered, feeling a wave of relief. She took Ethan’s hand and headed to baggage claim.
As the suitcases rolled by on the carousel, Emily caught a glimpse of the man in the hat near the exit. He’d already grabbed his luggage and, hand-in-hand with his companion, was heading out. «Thank God it’s not him. But that mole… No, it’s just a coincidence. Focus on the vacation,» she told herself sternly.
They took a taxi to their hotel. The spacious room with a breathtaking sea view instantly charmed Emily. She stepped onto the balcony, breathed in the salty, restorative air, and mentally released her worries into the wind.
The first three days were absolute perfection—sunny weather, free beach chairs, the soothing sound of waves, and Ethan’s infectious laughter. The only disturbance was occasional shouting from the room next door, where a man and woman seemed to argue nightly. But even that didn’t ruin Emily’s enjoyment or her ability to sleep soundly after busy days in the sun.
On the fourth evening, Emily stepped onto the balcony for some fresh air. She overheard her noisy neighbors arguing on the balcony below.
