A Quiet Night at the Airport

The plan was simple: catch a late‑night flight and connect to the next one on time. Instead, the traveler found himself with only ten minutes between a closed gate and a different terminal. A kind airline staff member saw the frustration, booked an early morning flight for the next day, and handed a hotel voucher. The passenger waited two hours for a shuttle that never arrived. Recalling a past experience when a funeral trip was delayed by severe weather, the traveler decided to stay overnight. He wandered between quiet gates until he found a seat, ready for sleep. At 3 a. m. , cleaning crew members—likely immigrants from afar—arrived, working silently and efficiently. Their calm presence stood in stark contrast to the usual airport bustle.The scene felt almost ceremonial: a small team maintaining order with dignity and grace. The traveler watched them, appreciating their quiet dedication, before they moved on to another gate at 3:20 a. m. He felt a strange relief, as if missing the flight had given him a glimpse of something rare. When dawn broke, the airport erupted into activity. Lights flickered on, staff and passengers hurried to their schedules, and a new breakfast shop opened. The traveler boarded the morning flight, nodding off as the crew returned to their routines. He wondered about the safety and lives of those early workers, wishing them well.