The Unexpected Hiker

I observed an unexpected interaction on the hiking trail leading up to the top of one of the hills surrounding Praia do Rosa. A hiker ahead of me was struggling to ascend due to fatigue, while a passing runner offered words of encouragement. What caught my attention was that the hiker, upon reaching the summit, shared an emotional embrace with the runner, unlike anything I had ever witnessed before. As it turns out, they were complete strangers prior to that moment. The exchange made me question the nature of human connection and the power of shared experience.