He crouched down to Emma’s level, who had temporarily paused in her antics, intrigued by the uniformed figure. “Hey there,” he said warmly, “I bet this seat is a bit boring, huh? How about I show you something special?” Emma, captivated by his kind demeanor, nodded slowly.

With my consent, the pilot gently unbuckled her seatbelt and led Emma down the aisle. As they made their way toward the cockpit, I heard him softly explaining the wonders of flying—clouds, the sky, how it all worked. Emma’s eyes widened with every word, her earlier restlessness forgotten.