When Strangers Feel Like Home (Yosemite, 2AM)
The Merced River was colder than I expected. I sat on a rock, shoes off, pretending I was here for the view. In reality, I was just tired—of hiking, of small talk, of myself.
Then a couple wandered over, arguing about whether the water was safe to drink. We laughed about our shared uncertainty, and for a moment, the loneliness cracked. We traded stories about failed relationships and missed flights. It was the kind of honesty that only happens when you know you’ll never see each other again.
We left without exchanging names. I still think about them when I see rivers, and how sometimes, the best connections are the ones you never plan for.
#Travel #SoloTravelTruth #UnexpectedConnections
