After a week of high-stress meetings in Seoul, all I wanted was peace. I had barely slept, closed a huge deal, and was ready to collapse into the premium seat I had booked weeks ago. But when I reached the gate, the airline staff told me the flight was overbooked. My seat had been reassigned. I was moved to the very back of economy in a tight middle seat.
I boarded the plane and tried to stay calm as I squeezed into the narrow row. It was hot, loud, and the air already smelled stale. I adjusted my pillow, set my bag under the seat, and closed my eyes to reset. Then I felt it. A sudden hard kick slammed into my lower back.
I turned to see a young Asian boy behind me, maybe six years old, grinning as he swung his legs into my seat. His mother sat beside him flipping through a fashion magazine, completely ignoring him. I smiled politely and asked the boy if he could stop. He paused for a moment, then kicked even harder.