I had traveled hundreds of miles, but at that moment, the distance from home felt greater than ever.
I began thinking about the things I normally took for granted: a warm room, dry clothes, a familiar voice, and the ability to decide what to do next. Those comforts seemed unusually precious when I could not be sure where I would be sleeping.
Then another announcement came through the speakers.
A wave of movement swept across the waiting area. People stood up, collected their bags, and hurried toward the ticket counters. I joined them, hoping my destination had finally been mentioned.
It had not.
Another delay. Another uncertainty.
I returned to my place by the window and looked at my phone. The screen showed very little battery remaining. I considered turning it off to preserve the power, but doing so would also leave me without a way to check for updates.
