m obese, so I bought two seats for myself on a work flight\u2026 not for luxury, but for peace. An entitled couple stole the extra seat and called me a \u201cfat jerk.\u201d They thought they could shame me and get away with it.<\/p>\n
At 35,000 feet, I made sure they regretted every smug word.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m Carly and I\u2019ve spent 32 years learning how to exist in a body that society has strong opinions about. I\u2019m obese. Not the kind of chubby that gets cutesy nicknames in romance novels.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m the kind of fat where strangers feel entitled to comment on my grocery cart contents. The kind where I\u2019ve mastered the art of making myself smaller in public spaces, even when it\u2019s physically impossible.<\/p>\n
Which is why I always buy two airplane seats when I travel alone.<\/p>\n
My boyfriend, Matt, never makes me feel like I need two seats when we fly together. He\u2019ll lift the armrest, let me lean against him, and somehow make me forget all my anxieties about taking up space.<\/p>\n
But flying solo to this marketing conference in Westlake? Different story.<\/p>\n
I boarded early, settling into my window and middle seats on Flight 2419, lifting the armrest between them to create my little comfort zone.<\/p>\n
I spent an extra $176 for that middle seat\u2026 not because I couldn\u2019t technically fit in one, but because I didn\u2019t want to spend three hours pressed against a stranger who\u2019d shoot me side-eye every time turbulence pushed us together.<\/p>\n
I was flipping through the safety card when they appeared.<\/p>\n
\u201cBabe, look!<\/p>\n
I can sit right next to you instead!\u201d announced a man\u2019s voice dripping with unearned confidence.<\/p>\n
I glanced up to see a couple standing in the aisle\u2014a guy with slicked-back hair and a shirt one size too small and his girl with a perfect blowout and jewelry that caught the fluorescent lights.<\/p>\n
They were both staring at my empty middle seat like they\u2019d discovered buried treasure.<\/p>\n
\u201cSorry,\u201d I said, summoning my polite voice, \u201cI actually paid for both these seats.\u201d<\/p>\n
The guy\u2014I mentally dubbed him Mr. Entitled\u2014did a theatrical double-take. \u201cYou bought two seats?<\/p>\n
For yourself?\u201d<\/p>\n
I felt heat creep up my neck. \u201cYes, for personal comfort. The middle seat is paid for.\u201d<\/p>\n
He laughed, revealing his perfect teeth.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, it\u2019s empty, right? No one\u2019s sitting here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s because I paid for it not to have anyone sitting there. Please go to your assigned seat.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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