She wants to take her coat.

"Ma'am, passengers are only allowed one personal item," she said.

Candace was confused. "I just have my backpack."

The lady shook her head. "It's your coat," she said. "It won't fit under the seat in front of you."

Candace was confused. Sure, her coat was one of those puffy ones, but surely she'd be able to fit it. Besides, what was her alternative?

"A-are you sure? Can't I just wear it?"

The employee was getting a bit impatient, she noticed. "I'll put it with your checked luggage," the lady said. "Please, ma'am, you're holding up the line."

Candace looked around, and saw others waiting. Succumbing to peer pressure, she hoped and prayed her underwear would pass for shorts, then unzipped her coat.

She handed it to the woman, who gave her body a lingering glance, but said nothing else. Candace shivered, wanting nothing more than to get on the plane and away from her. She turned and made her way onto the place.

For all intents and purposes she was now in her pajamas, but she felt absolutely naked. She'd foregone a bra, again for the sake of comfort. Candace was acutely aware that the only thing separating her body from the rest of the world was a single layer of fabric.

Several people stared at her as she walked down the aisle. Candace normally dressed very modestly, and absolutely never showed this much leg. The feeling of the plane's air conditioner, all the eyes on her - it was so unfamiliar. Her skin crawled. She was unsure if people knew she was in her underwear, or if they just thought she was a show-off. Either way, it was almost unbearable.

Finally, she found her seat.