The low hum of the airplane resonated throughout the cabin—a soft, persistent murmur that had long since faded into the backdrop of the journey. It pulsed like a gentle heartbeat, barely noticeable now after five hours in the air. Beyond the small oval windows, the sky stretched endlessly, a vast canvas brushed with hues of gold and amber as the sun descended toward the horizon. The clouds drifted like soft, glowing islands beneath them, catching the fading light in their folds and edges, casting an almost dreamlike glow.

Inside the aircraft, nestled in her seat by the window, Serena sat in contemplative silence. Her fingers rested lightly against the armrest, her posture relaxed but her thoughts anything but. Her eyes, half-lidded and reflective, followed the slow dance of the sunlit clouds, yet her mind wandered far beyond the view.