I watch you watching her.

This young mother flying with three young children, has your full attention.

I can’t tell if it’s because of the babies, or because of the inescapable beauty of the woman herself.

The much older lady seated next to you, spills your story to me without your permission. A young refugee from Ukraine, here because of the war.

She speaks over you, a small, frail young girl trapped in her plane seat between these two strangers.

I reckon you to be about nine. You seem overwhelmed. How she managed to extract your story before the flight was fully boarded will forever be unknown.

The woman with the large smile, peppers you with questions you clearly struggle to understand. She is patronising but thinks she is being encouraging.

You sigh visibly with relieve when she agrees to change seats with your father and it heralds his arrival. You lean in close to your father and put your head on his shoulder, eyes closing briefly before you are startled back to alertness.

The young mother with three babies becomes the focus of your attention again.

It makes me wonder where your mother is. Is she alive? Is she waiting for you at the other end of your flight? There is a sadness and intensity in how you watch this mum which tells me you miss yours. Will see you see her again?

The plane is about to take off and I offer you a mint to suck on, explaining it helps with the ears. You smile and accept. I offer one to your dad and he gruffly says no.

I wonder if he was always gruff or did war make him that way? How much did leaving his home, his country, his family, harden him? What terrible things have this father and daughter seen? What uncertainties do they face every day in a new country? Who is here for them or are they alone?

I am deeply thankful for the freedom I have in my life. The safety we have been able to create, never knowing life in a war zone.

The plastic bag which constitutes your carry on luggage, is stuffed under the seat. There are no high tech phones or fly lite bags.

You sleep soon after take off, head resting lightly on your father.

I see the woman with the babies now has his attention and he grimaces over pain I will never understand.

I know I will wonder about you for a very long time. And I wish you well, you and your gruff dad, and I hope you have found peace.