“I need the bathroom!” Vespera’s voice, loud and demanding.

I turned to see her in the aisle, Torin behind her. A new flight attendant was trying to calm her.

“Ma’am, the seatbelt sign is on. Please return to your seat,” the attendant said.

“It’s an emergency!” Vespera wailed, doing a dramatic little dance.

I caught the old man’s eye across the aisle. He winked, enjoying the show.

Torin added, “My wife has a medical condition. The bathroom back here is occupied.”

The attendant looked torn. “I understand, but you’ll have to wait until the seatbelt sign is off.”

Vespera’s face crumpled. “I can’t wait! Please!”

She was quite the actress. If I didn’t know better, I might’ve felt sorry for her.

The attendant sighed. “Alright, but be quick. Straight back after.”

Torin and Vespera pushed toward the front. As they reached my row, I stood up, blocking them.

“Hold on,” I said loudly. “Didn’t we settle this? Back of the plane, remember?”

Torin’s face darkened. “Stay out of this, lady. It’s none of your business.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Oh, I think it is. We don’t need more disruptions, do we?”

Vespera’s voice turned syrupy. “Please, ma’am. Just a quick bathroom break. We’ll go right back.”

I looked at them, then at the approaching attendant. Time to end this.

“You’re right, it’s just a bathroom break,” I said, stepping aside. “Go ahead.”

They exchanged smug glances as they passed. But I wasn’t done. I turned to the attendant. “Did you know these two were told to stay in economy for disruptive behavior earlier?”

Her eyes widened. “No, I wasn’t aware.”

Just then, the first stewardess appeared. “Is there a problem?” she asked, spotting Torin and Vespera.

I stepped back, letting her take over. “I believe these two were just leaving,” I said, a hint of satisfaction in my voice.

The stewardess’s face hardened. “I thought I was clear. Back to your seats. Now.”

“But…” Vespera started.

“No buts,” she snapped. “Or would you like to discuss this with the air marshal?”

That shut them up. Torin and Vespera slunk back to economy, defeated.

As we descended into California, I felt a wave of relief. The rest of the flight was peaceful, and I was eager to see Selene and my family.

The captain announced, “We’re beginning our final approach to Los Angeles International Airport. Please ensure your seats are upright and seatbelts fastened.”

As we taxied to the gate, I gathered my things, ready to leave. The stewardess approached. “Thank you for your patience today,” she said warmly. “We hope you had a comfortable flight despite the earlier disturbances.”

I smiled. “Thanks to you, I did. You handled it perfectly.”

She beamed. “Have a great day, ma’am!”

I stretched, sore from the long flight. As I walked down the aisle, I saw Torin and Vespera, still avoiding eye contact.

For a moment, I felt a pang of sympathy. They were young, caught up in their honeymoon. But then I remembered their behavior, and the sympathy faded.

As I passed, I couldn’t resist. “Hope you learned something today. Enjoy your honeymoon!”

Torin’s face turned red, but he stayed silent. Smart choice.

I left the plane, feeling triumphant. It had been a wild ride, but decency and a touch of karma had won. In the terminal, I saw Selene waiting, her face lighting up. All thoughts of Torin and Vespera vanished. I was home, and that was all that mattered.