Captain Fong was a seasoned pilot for one of the airlines in Singapore, known for his unwavering professionalism and calm demeanour. He had flown countless night flights, but one flight from Singapore to Narita would remain etched in his memory forever.

It was a humid evening in Singapore as Captain Fong boarded the Boeing 777. The passengers settled in, the engines roared to life, and the plane ascended into the inky night sky. The flight was expected to be smooth, with just a few weather patches along the way. The meal service had concluded, and the cabin lights were dimmed, allowing passengers to rest. The crew in charge, Szeto, even lowered the cabin temperature by one degree to ensure the passengers would sleep better.

As the aircraft cruised at 35,000 feet, Captain Fong noticed a weather disturbance ahead. He decided to switch on the seatbelt sign to ensure the passengers' safety. He also informed the cabin crew, led by the very safety-conscious Szeto.

Captain Fong sat in the cockpit, his newspaper spread out before him, engrossed in the day's news. As he glanced up at the cockpit door surveillance cameras, something unusual caught his eye. A young boy was standing near the galley area, a place passengers were not typically allowed to linger. Captain Fong found this odd, especially considering Szeto’s unwavering commitment to safety protocols. She was known for her diligence and strict adherence to the rules, so why hadn't she asked the boy to return to his seat?

Curiosity piqued, Captain Fong considered the possibilities. Perhaps the boy was a family member of one of the crew, which might explain why he was being given some leniency. Nonetheless, the situation needed to be addressed. Deciding it would be best to handle it personally, Captain Fong folded his newspaper and rose from his seat. He had been planning to take a short break anyway, to use the toilet and grab a fresh cup of coffee.

As he made his way out of the cockpit, he pondered how to approach the boy without causing alarm. Once he exited the cockpit door, Captain Fong saw the boy more clearly. The child looked to be about seven or eight years old, with wide, curious eyes taking in the surroundings. Captain Fong smiled warmly as he approached, aiming to put the boy at ease. "Hello there," he said kindly. "Are you lost, or do you need some help?"
The boy looked up, somewhat startled but not frightened. "I was just looking for the bathroom," he explained, his voice small but clear.

Captain Fong nodded understandingly. "No problem at all. Let me show you where it is." He gently guided the boy to the nearest restroom. Once the boy was settled, Captain Fong made his way to the galley to ask for his coffee, greeting Szeto with a nod and a smile. She gave him a questioning look, and he simply shrugged, indicating that everything was under control.

Back in the cockpit, Captain Fong settled back into his seat, the comforting weight of his coffee cup in his hand. The aroma of the freshly brewed coffee filled the small space, offering a momentary respite from the constant hum of the aircraft's systems. He took a slow sip, savouring the warmth, and then let his eyes wander back to the flight deck entry cameras out of habit. To his surprise, the same young boy was once again standing near the galley. The boy’s small figure was barely illuminated by the soft glow of the overhead lights, casting long shadows that flickered with the plane’s subtle movements.

Captain Fong furrowed his brow, momentarily distracted by the sight. He considered getting up again to address the situation but hesitated. With a measured sigh, Captain Fong decided to ignore the boy's presence for the moment. They were almost through the rough weather, and he was about to switch off the seatbelt sign, signalling to the passengers that it was safe to move about the cabin.

A few moments later, they cleared the weather patch, and the ride became noticeably smoother. Captain Fong reached for the intercom and announced to the passengers that they had passed through the turbulence and that the seatbelt sign would soon be turned off. His voice was calm and reassuring, a practised tone that conveyed confidence and control.

The flight continued without incident, and soon they landed smoothly at Narita Airport. As the crew disembarked and made their way to the crew hotel in Narita village, Captain Fong couldn’t shake off the image of the boy. He decided to address it with Szeto.

“I saw a young boy near the galley during the flight. I thought he might be a family member of one of the crew, but I didn’t see him in the lobby. Any idea who he was?” he asked casually.

Szeto's brows knitted together, a clear expression of confusion spreading across her face. She turned to Captain Fong, her voice tinged with genuine puzzlement. "What boy? There were no children in JCL on this flight.”

Captain Fong hesitated, his mind replaying the scene he had witnessed on the flight deck entry cameras. The image of the young boy standing near the galley was vivid in his memory, the small figure illuminated by the overhead lights. He had been so certain of what he saw and he had even spoken to him, showing him to the toilet, yet Szeto's reaction cast a shadow of doubt over his recollection.

"Yes, I saw him," he insisted, though a hint of uncertainty crept into his tone. "He was right there, near the galley. He looked like he was about seven or eight years old, and he seemed lost. I spoke to him and directed him to the bathroom, but when I checked the monitor again, he was back in the same spot."

Szeto shook her head slowly, her frown deepening. "I’ve been monitoring the cabin closely, Captain Fong. If there had been a child wandering around, especially in business class, I would have noticed. Our passenger list is very clear—no unaccompanied minors on this flight, and definitely no children in JCL."

Captain Fong took a deep breath, trying to reconcile his clear memory with Szeto’s firm denial. The flight deck entry cameras were precise, designed to offer a comprehensive view of the cockpit entry, and he had no reason to doubt their accuracy. Yet, Szeto's steadfast certainty made him question his own senses.

Captain Fong’s heart sank. He approached other members of the cabin crew, but their responses were the same. No one had seen a boy, and the galley was too small to miss such a presence.

As he lay in his hotel room that night, sleep eluded him. The image of the boy haunted him. Who was he? And why did he appear only to disappear without a trace? Captain Fong never spoke of the encounter again, but on every night flight from Singapore to Narita, he couldn’t help but glance at the cockpit door surveillance cameras, wondering if the boy would appear once more.