“Is this seat taken?”

Max turner, pulled off his earbud and smiled at the pretty young woman who stood behind him, gesturing at an empty seat.

“Don’t have a clue sorry.” He said with an apologetic smile, “But I don’t see anyone’s stuff so I think you’re good.”

She thanked him, quickly sitting down with her suitcase and pulling out a Kindle. They were at the counter of a coffee shop in the Seattle International airport.

She seemed nice, and Max was tempted to start a conversation, but it was clear that she was lost in the story that she was reading, and Max was socially adept enough to understand that she probably didn’t want to talk.

A few minutes later, he picked up his stuff and left for his gate, his flight was boarding in 30 minutes.

He didn’t even know her name.