Then, a soft voice spoke beside her.

“Excuse me,” an older woman said from across the aisle. She had kind blue eyes and silver hair tucked neatly behind her ears. “May I?”

Maya blinked, unsure what she meant.

“May I help?” the woman smiled. “I used to be a nurse. Babies can sense tension. Let me hold him for a bit.”

Maya hesitated but saw the warmth in her eyes. Carefully, she passed Noah over. The woman began humming softly—an old lullaby that seemed to carry calm itself. Within minutes, Noah’s cries faded into small hiccups. He nestled into the woman’s arms and fell asleep.