I had a long layover in Istanbul, and after hours of sitting in the departure lounge, I needed a change of scenery. I found a small café near my gate, ordered a tea, and sat by the window, watching planes take off and land. The woman sitting across from me seemed just as restless, flipping through a magazine absentmindedly. I glanced at her and gave a polite smile.

After a few minutes, she initiated conversation. “Waiting for a connecting flight?” she asked. I nodded, and soon, we were sharing stories about our travel misadventures. She was on her way to a conference in Tokyo, and I was headed to a beach holiday. What started as small talk quickly blossomed into a deeper conversation about our lives—she was navigating a career change, and I was fresh out of a long relationship, using travel as a way to rediscover myself.

We spent the next two hours talking as if we’d known each other for years. We didn’t share much personal information beyond first names, but there was something comforting about that moment of connection with a fellow traveler. When her flight was called, we hugged and wished each other well, both knowing that sometimes, the most unexpected encounters bring the greatest sense of connection.