"Baby, what happened?"
The word baby almost broke me.
I was eighteen, a college student, and determined to be independent. I hated being called a baby in public, especially by a mother whose position already made people treat me differently.
But at that moment, I wanted nothing more than to hear her say it again.
"Mom."
My voice cracked.
She reached my seat and crouched slightly so she could look directly into my face.
"Are you hurt?"
I shook my head.
My eyes were still stinging, and my cheek felt unpleasant, but I didn't think I had suffered a serious injury.
My mother studied me.
Then she noticed the napkin.
Her expression changed.
"What happened here?"
Elena stepped forward.
"Senator Johnson, I'm the lead flight attendant. We have an incident involving another passenger."
My mother looked toward her.
"What kind of incident?"
Victoria began speaking immediately.
"This has been blown completely out of proportion."
My mother turned.
For the first time, she looked directly at Victoria Whitmore.
I watched the two women study each other.
Victoria seemed to recognize my mother.
Her posture changed, and the confident expression she'd worn moments earlier became strained.
"Senator," she said. "What a surprise."
My mother didn't respond to the greeting.
Instead, she asked Elena, "What happened to my daughter?"
The flight attendant glanced toward Victoria.
"There was a dispute over her assigned seat. Ms. Whitmore questioned her ticket, took the boarding pass, and refused to accept confirmation that Ms. Johnson was properly seated."
Victoria interrupted.
"I was concerned about a ticketing error."
Elena continued.
"The situation escalated."
Evelyn stood across the aisle.
"She sprayed perfume toward the girl's face and spat on her."
My mother went completely still.
She looked at me.
"Amara?"
I nodded.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Then she turned toward Victoria.
"Did you spit on my daughter?"
Victoria's mouth opened.
She looked toward Gerald.
Then back toward my mother.
"There was an unfortunate misunderstanding."
My mother didn't move.
"I asked whether you spat on her."
Victoria gave a nervous laugh.
"Senator, surely we can discuss this privately."
Evelyn raised her phone.
"I have the video."
My mother glanced toward her.