Departure Delays
Jen zipped her suitcase shut with a sharp, satisfying tug. Her itinerary was packed tight: land in San Jose, check into the hotel, get a good night’s rest, and pitch the high-stakes software partnership to Silicon Valley executives at 9:00 AM sharp the next morning.
At the airport gate, however, the departure board flickered and shifted.
FLIGHT STATUS UPDATE: Delayed — 2 Hours 45 Minutes (Maintenance).
Jen sighed, settling into a stiff airport chair with a lukewarm coffee. She used the extra time to double-check her presentation deck on her laptop, rehearsing her speaking points until her voice was a quiet whisper. By the time boarding was finally called, the sun was already setting over the tarmac.
