Daily writing prompt

Describe a random encounter with a stranger that stuck out positively to you.

View all responses

Sometimes, the best connections come from the most unexpected places. I’ll never forget a moment that happened when I was in my late teens at JFK International Airport. I was just passing through, not expecting much more than the usual hustle and bustle of travelers, but little did I know that a random encounter would leave a lasting mark on my heart.

While waiting to board the plane, I struck up a conversation with a young lady in her early 20s from Japan. We clicked instantly, as if we had known each other for years. Perhaps it was our close age, or we just really jived. She was traveling back to Fukuoka, where she worked as the editor-in-chief of a teen magazine. We chatted for a while, sharing stories and laughter, and before we knew it, it was time to board. Amazingly, we were assigned to seats next to each other! It felt like fate had stepped in to keep our conversation going. The entire flight was filled with easy conversation, and her warmth and kindness made it feel like I was chatting with an old friend rather than a stranger.

Before we parted ways, we exchanged contact information, excited about the possibility of keeping in touch. But as life often goes, we never really found the time to write or reconnect. Despite that, there’s one thing I’ll always have to remember that day—a picture we took together, capturing the fleeting but special moment we shared.

To this day, I still think about her. I wonder if she remembers me and if she ever thinks back to that day at JFK. I hope, someday, I’ll have the chance to reconnect with her, even if just to share how much our brief encounter meant to me. It’s a reminder of how sometimes, the most meaningful friendships can come from the most unlikely encounters, and how you never know when a simple conversation might turn into a memory that stays with you for a lifetime.

I’m so grateful for the unexpected friendships I’ve made along the way, and I hope this story inspires you to cherish those moments of connection, no matter how brief they may seem. You never know when a chance meeting will become one of the most memorable experiences of your life.