An overnight bag can contain a decision larger than the length of the planned visit.

Luggage size and life size do not match. A single bag by the door can mean one night away, or it can mean a marriage being tested, a parent’s last weeks, a decision that has not been spoken aloud yet. The stated length of the trip is often the smallest true thing about it.

If somebody you know is packing a small bag for something large, ask about the thing rather than the itinerary. If the bag is yours, allow the visit to be what it actually is, and do not measure the weight of it against how few clothes you took.