Fatigue and exasperation
Just before I exited the terminal, I noticed them still mired in procedural limbo, caught between fatigue and exasperation.
The husband was rubbing his temples, while the wife frantically gestured at a customs officer. Their optimism had evaporated, replaced by visible frustration.
It seemed every small error I had included in their paperwork was doing its job. I paused for a moment, letting the scene sink in, then resumed my leisurely pace towards the exit.