My eyes follow the server in his crisp white shirt, black apron, and face shield, holding a tray as he moves along the line of weary, masked passengers. It’s December 23, and we have just arrived in the Rome airport on one of Delta’s first COVID-tested flights from Atlanta.

Most of the passengers are too tired, anxious, or distracted to take him up on his offer: a neatly packaged piece of pandoro, a traditional Italian Christmas cake. I happily accept the sugar-dusted wedge. Another slice of humanity, I think. I take it with me as we check in for our third COVID test in three days.