The bright morning light streamed through the huge glass windows of the airport terminal. Sarah pulled her quiet silver suitcase behind her as she walked across the polished floor. She wore her favorite beige trench coat and felt excited for a peaceful getaway. Her husband Mark walked right beside her in his crisp navy suit. He looked sharp and professional, holding his leather briefcase tightly. But something felt strange about this morning. Sarah looked to her left and saw Chloe walking right along with them. Chloe wore a bright yellow dress with large black sunglasses. She looked like she was heading to a tropical beach resort instead of a work meeting.
Sarah: Why is your co-worker coming with us on this vacation?
Mark: It is nothing personal, Sarah. It is just for work purposes.
Sarah: Work? We planned this anniversary trip three full months ago.
Mark: The company needed Chloe on this file at the last minute.
Sarah adjusted the strap of her handbag and felt a tight knot in her stomach. Mark had been working late nights for the past six months at the firm. He always said his real estate business required extra hours and urgent client calls. Sarah had supported him through every stressful week because she trusted his word completely. They had been married for five years and built a happy life together in their suburban home. But looking at Chloe's bright yellow dress and light luggage made Sarah feel uneasy. Chloe did not look like she was preparing for a corporate business meeting at all.
Sarah: She does not even have a briefcase with her today.
Mark: She packed her laptop inside her carry-on bag, Sarah.
Chloe: Yes, Sarah. Mark and I have a huge presentation tomorrow morning.
Sarah: I see. It just feels very sudden to me.
They continued walking past the busy duty-free shops and packed coffee stands. The smell of fresh espresso and toasted bagels filled the warm morning air around them. Dozens of travelers rushed by with their rolling bags, checking the giant flight boards on the walls. Mark kept checking his gold watch every few seconds as if he wanted to hurry up. Chloe stayed close to his side, occasionally whispering something into his ear while smiling softly. Sarah felt like a complete stranger walking beside her own husband in the middle of the crowd. She took out her pink smartphone from her coat pocket to distract her mind.
Sarah: I just need to check my notifications for a second.
Mark: Do not waste time on social media now. We need to reach Gate Four.
Sarah: We still have forty minutes before boarding starts, Mark.
Mark: I want us to get good seats near the boarding door.
Sarah opened her favorite photo-sharing app while they kept walking slowly toward the gate. She tapped on the search icon and typed in Chloe's public profile name. She did not know why she felt the sudden urge to look, but her instincts kept pushing her. Chloe posted pictures of her daily life, food, and stylish outfits almost every single day. The page loaded quickly on the screen, showing dozens of recent photo tiles. Sarah scrolled down past photos of colorful coffee cups and fancy dinner plates from local restaurants. Then her thumb stopped moving completely as her eyes caught a picture posted just three days ago.