The atmosphere in the business-class cabin was tense. Passengers cast disdainful glances at an elderly woman as soon as she took her seat.

However, it was precisely to her that the captain of the aircraft addressed himself at the end of the flight.

Alevtina sat nervously in her seat. An argument immediately broke out.

“I’m not sitting next to that lady!” a man in his forties protested loudly, looking disdainfully at her modest clothing and addressing the flight attendant.

His name was Viktor Sokolov. He displayed arrogance and contempt without concealment.

—I’m sorry, but this passenger has her ticket for this seat.

“We can’t change it,” the flight attendant replied calmly, although Victor kept staring at Alevtina.

“These seats are too expensive for people like that,” he said sarcastically, looking around for support.

Alevtina remained silent, although inside she felt distressed.

She was wearing her best dress, simple but neat, the only garment suitable for such an important moment.

Some passengers looked at each other, while others nodded, supporting Victor.

At one point, unable to contain herself, the old woman gently raised her hand and said in a low voice:

—Okay… If there’s room in economy class, I’ll move. I’ve saved my whole life for this trip, and I don’t want to upset anyone…

Alevtina was eighty-five years old. It was her first flight.

The journey from Vladivostok to Moscow had been exhausting: miles of corridors, the hustle and bustle of the terminals, endless waits.

An airport employee had even accompanied her so she wouldn’t get lost.

But now, when his dream was just hours away, he faced humiliation.

However, the flight attendant stood her ground: “I’m sorry, ma’am, but you paid for that ticket and you have every right to be here.”

Don’t let anyone take that away from you.

He looked at Victor intently and added firmly:

—If you don’t stop, I’ll call security.

He remained silent, muttering, disgusted.

The plane took off. Alevtina nervously dropped her bag, and without a word, Victor helped her pick up her things.

As he handed the bag back to her, his gaze fell on a medallion with a blood-colored stone.

“Nice pendant,” he commented. “It looks like a ruby. I know a bit about antiques. That’s worth quite a bit.”

Alevtina smiled. “I don’t know how much it’s worth… My father gave it to my mother before he went to war.”

He never came back. My mother gave him to me when I turned ten.

He opened the locket, which contained two old photographs: one, a young couple; the other, a small boy smiling at the world.

“These are my parents,” he said tenderly. “And this is my son.”

“Are you going to meet him?” Victor asked cautiously.

“No,” Alevtina replied, lowering her gaze. “I gave him up to an orphanage when he was a baby. I didn’t have a husband or a job.”

I couldn’t give him a decent life. I recently found him thanks to a DNA test.

I wrote to him… but he replied that he didn’t want to hear anything from me. Today is his birthday.

I just wanted to be close, even if it was just for a moment…

Victor was speechless.

—So why fly?

The old woman gave a weak smile, although there was sadness in her eyes:

—He’s the commander of this flight. It’s the only way to get close, even if it’s just a look…

Victor remained silent, overcome with shame, lowering his gaze.

The flight attendant, hearing everything, quietly retreated to the cockpit.

A few minutes later, the captain’s voice echoed in the cockpit: “Dear passengers, we will soon begin our descent to Sheremetyevo Airport.”

But first, I want to address a very special woman on board. Mom… please stay after we land. I want to see you.

Alevtina stood still. Tears streamed down her cheeks.

The cabin was filled with silence, which was then broken by applause and smiles through tears.

When the plane landed, the captain broke protocol: he hurriedly left the cockpit and, without hiding his tears, ran to Alevtina.

He hugged her tightly, as if he wanted to make up for all the lost years.

“Thank you, Mom, for everything you’ve done for me,” he whispered, hugging her.

Alevtina cried in his arms:

—There’s nothing to forgive. I’ve always loved you…

Victor stood aside, head down and ashamed.

He understood that, behind those humble clothes and wrinkles, a story of sacrifice and immense love was hidden.

It wasn’t just a flight. It was the reunion of two hearts separated by time, but finally finding each other.