The voice remained only a memory after the screen went dark.
Emily stood frozen.
She looked at Monica.
Then toward the unseen direction of the manager.
Her lips parted.
โMs. Hayes?โ
Monica didn't respond.
Emily looked at the torn boarding pass.
Then at Monica's face.
Something was wrong.
Not with the ticket.
With everything Emily thought she knew.
She slowly placed both pieces of the ticket on the counter.
โMa'amโฆโ
Monica raised one hand slightly.
Emily stopped.
The manager's voice came again from somewhere outside the frame.
โMs. Hayes?โ
This time, Monica answered.
โI'm here.โ
Emily's face went pale.
The tone between Monica and the unseen manager was different.
Respectful.
Concerned.
Almost nervous.
Monica looked at the torn ticket.
Then at Emily.
โI asked you to check it.โ
Emily couldn't find words.
Monica picked up one half.
Then the other.
She carefully aligned them.
The boarding pass was ruined.
Emily stared at it.
โIโฆโ
Monica looked at her.
โYou didn't verify anything.โ
Emily swallowed.
โNo.โ
โYou decided.โ
Emily's eyes dropped.
โYes.โ
Monica placed the torn pieces beside her handbag.
Then she looked toward the unseen manager.
โGive me a moment.โ
The voice immediately answered.
โOf course, Ms. Hayes.โ
Emily heard the respect.
And finally understood that she had made a terrible mistake.