"Sweetheart, these things happen all the time. People walk into the wrong cabin because they don't understand how boarding groups work."
I felt heat rising into my face.
"I understand my boarding group."
"Do you?"
I looked toward Elena, who was helping another passenger near the front.
Then I turned back.
"The ticket says 2A. The gate scanner accepted it. This is my seat."
Victoria studied me.
Her expression changed.
"Did you steal that boarding pass?"
For a moment, I thought I had misheard her.
"What?"
She repeated the question.
"Did you steal it?"
I stared.
Across the aisle, Gerald lowered his phone.
"Victoria."
She ignored him.
"I'm asking a simple question."
I took a slow breath.
"And I'm giving you a simple answer. No."
Victoria looked at my sweatshirt.
"First Class costs more than your entire wardrobe."
The sentence landed harder than I expected.
Several nearby passengers turned.
A man in the row behind us stopped typing on his laptop.
I felt my stomach tighten.
I had chosen my sweatshirt because I was proud of my university, and I had worn my white sneakers because they were comfortable for travel. I hadn't considered that my clothing might become evidence in somebody else's imaginary trial.
I looked toward Victoria.
"My clothes have nothing to do with my seat."
She laughed.
"Of course they don't."
Gerald spoke again.
"Victoria, stop."
She turned toward him.
"I'm simply trying to make sure everything is in order."
"Then let the flight attendant handle it."
Victoria looked irritated.
But when Elena approached, she immediately changed her tone.
"Excuse me. I believe there's been an assignment error."
Elena looked from Victoria to me.
"How can I help?"
Victoria pointed toward my seat.
"This young lady appears to be sitting somewhere she doesn't belong."
The flight attendant turned toward me.
"May I see your boarding pass, please?"
I held it up.
But before Elena could take it, Victoria reached across the aisle and snatched it from my hand.
The movement happened so quickly that I barely reacted.
"Here," she announced. "You can see for yourself."
I stared at her.
"Give that back."
Victoria ignored me.
Elena's expression tightened.
"Ma'am, please hand it to me."
Victoria did.
The flight attendant examined the ticket.