With his gym session behind him, Luca stepped out of the facility and into the fresh air of the premises. His bag and water bottle were clutched in one hand, while the other struggled to fit the earpiece securely into his ears, an awkward battle of balance.
A stroke of luck awaited him: one of the senior staff members at the facility was about to board a white van. The man mentioned he needed to pick up some supplies and offered Luca a ride back to his hotel.
Luca didn't hesitate and climbed into the passenger seat. Out of respect, he decided to unplug his earpiece, opting instead to engage in conversation with the man who had kindly offered him a lift. He still found it surreal, the way life had changed—talking to strangers from different corners of the world. Funny how this man could've driven off on any other day, blissfully unaware of his existence.
