April 28, 2025
by Laura K. Mitchell

Yesterday was one of those days where I thought everything was going to go perfectly—my first solo flight, everything packed and ready to go. I was feeling proud of myself, excited even. I’d always been a little nervous about flying alone, but everything had gone smoothly so far. The security check was a breeze, and I even put all my electronics in a separate bag to keep them organized, which I thought was a smart move at the time.

I grabbed my luggage immediately after landing, and I thought I was good to go. But as I sat in the airport taxi, halfway to my destination, I suddenly had a horrifying realization: I didn’t have my electronics bag. I had left it on the flight.

Panic set in. I asked the driver to turn around, my heart racing as I tried to explain to him what had happened. I was already halfway to where I needed to be, and I just kept thinking, How could I be so careless?

The worst part? It was the last flight of the day. If I didn’t act fast, that bag would be long gone, and who knew when I’d ever get it back. I barely made it back to the gate, but thankfully, the flight hadn’t taken off yet, and the staff was kind enough to retrieve my bag.

I don’t think I’ve ever been so relieved in my life. I had to pay the cab driver way more than the fare I’d expected, but honestly, I didn’t even care. I was just thankful that my bag—and all my stuff—was safe and sound