I am a student who travels back and forth between my parents' house in Denver and my school in LA about once every couple of months.

However, whether I am coming to LA or going to Denver, there is that "aisle in front of first class" that I must pass every time I board the plane.

I am just an ordinary 20-year-old female student, but every time I take a domestic flight, that short aisle somehow shakes my mental state.

No one seems to care, but I feel strangely small, and my head instinctively bows during that peculiar moment...

It's not a big deal, but every time I pass by, I have that slight twist in my heart.

First, boarding begins, right? The moment I hear "Group 5 now boarding!" I start preparing myself mentally.

Because soon, the "walking show past first class" will begin. When I actually walk through that space without curtains, the atmosphere is completely different when I see the people sitting there.

Some look like they are already working on something important with their laptops open, some are wiping their faces with hot towels, and others have already finished half a glass of wine in that short time. Meanwhile, I just have my laptop and hastily packed clothes in my backpack.

Moreover, it's really strange that even though the first-class passengers don't look at me, I feel like I'm guilty and my head bows down on its own.

While walking down the aisle, I suddenly think, 'In my next life, will I be there too...?' and then my next thought is, 'Ah, let's just stick to economy in this life...'

But the funniest part is my expression. Every time I pass first class, I unconsciously say to myself, "I... will just pass by... yes... I'm in the back..."

This inner dialogue is all written on my face. Clearly, no one is paying attention to me, but I'm awkwardly shrinking and smiling for no reason.

And there is a moment when that feeling peaks. It's right at the boundary between first class and economy. When I cross that line on the floor, I suddenly feel like I'm being brought back to reality. It's like I thought I had entered a bonus stage in a game, but then I get reset back to the original map.

When I finally reach my seat, 28B, I think, "Ah... this is my world..."

Especially on the LA–Denver route, the flight time is short, so the first-class passengers act very posh even though they are short on time. They order coffee, open their laptops, put in their earphones, and spread out comfortably... Meanwhile, I pass by thinking, "Wow... the seat space is so wide, I'd be confused about where to put my feet..." with a strange jealousy that isn't really jealousy.

But to be honest, that feeling of inferiority isn't necessarily a bad thing. It's just like seeing the bare face of life once a month?

And it might sound a bit funny, but I actually enjoy that moment. Because every time I pass by, strange dialogues automatically play in my head.

"How nice... stretching my legs would be really nice..."

"Are the people sitting here moving the world today too...?"

"But why is that table so wide... if I put a kid on it, they could dance..."

"After graduation, I'll definitely work at a big company and use unlimited mileage..."

While these thoughts pass by, first class ends in an instant, and I find my seat, put my backpack away, plug in my earphones, and sit comfortably while watching some assignments or dramas.

And when we land, I think, "Yeah! Economy isn't so bad! Mom's cooking when I get home!" and feel good again.

In the end, the feeling of my mental state wavering when passing by first class is... just a fleeting feeling.

Yet, that strange emotion I feel every time seems a bit realistic and a bit funny.

Next month, when I go to Denver again, I will experience that short moment of reality check, but I've gotten used to it, and that moment has become a part of my travel routine.