Between Flights

The photograph captures a moment of stillness rarely noticed in the constant hum of an airport: a few pieces of luggage leaning against an empty bench, waiting. My first thought was the familiar overhead announcement: “Do not leave your luggage unattended.” The bags appear innocent enough, but the absence of their owner transforms the scene into a small tension, a quiet question.

Between Flights ©2025 Eric Wells Hatheway

Airports are spaces in perpetual motion—arrivals and departures, greetings and goodbyes—yet this image freezes a pause between journeys. There’s a story hovering here, untold. Perhaps the traveler stepped away for a quick coffee, or maybe they’re off in search of an updated boarding gate. The bags are placeholders in a narrative of movement, a reminder that travel is as much about waiting as it is about going.

In that stillness, I see both the vulnerability and the trust that travel demands: the hope that, in a world of constant watchfulness and rules, these possessions will remain undisturbed until their owner returns to continue the journey between flights.