The author reflects on growing up in a refugee family that prioritized wariness towards strangers, a sentiment passed down from their parents. This caution was put to the test when approached by a couple needing witnesses for their wedding. Despite initial hesitations linked to their upbringing, the author chose to embrace curiosity and trust, leading to a heartwarming and spontaneous encounter. The article encapsulates the tension between instinctual caution and the human desire for connection and shared moments, especially in unfamiliar situations.
‘As I got older, their anxieties became my own. I would automatically assume that someone asking for directions might run off with my phone.’
‘Caution lingered in the back of my mind, yet the magic of the moment made me forget my training in suspicion.’
‘But another part—the one I've been learning to nurture, that leans into trust and curiosity—told me to say yes.’
‘However, there was something charming about the couple’s plea, the spontaneity of the moment, making it feel like a story waiting to happen.’
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