A couple — him smug, her sparkling — strutted up the aisle and plopped down right into the seat I paid for.

“Sorry,” I said, as politely as I could, “I bought both seats.”

They laughed.

“Seriously? You bought two… just for you?”

“Yes,” I replied.

The man rolled his eyes and sat anyway. “Well, it’s empty, so…”

His girlfriend chimed in, all fake sweetness and venom:

“It’s not a big deal. You’re being a fat jerk.”

I wanted to disappear. I wanted to scream. Instead, I smiled and said:

“Fine. Keep the seat.”

The Shift

As the plane took off, I did something I’m not usually encouraged to do: I took. Up. Space.

I pulled out a giant bag of chips. I leaned into the full width of the two seats I paid for. I bumped his elbow. I jostled my shoulders. I lived loudly.

Eventually, he