<□>□s th□□se□on□ en□ounter dr□w to□a close, □ts impact reverb□ra□ed w□□hin □e, leaving □e□w□t□□a new□oun□ sen□e □f cla□i□y and pur□os□□ The□exch□nge□of ideas□ em□tions, and expe□iences had enri□hed□my per□□ect□ve□ □□oad□ned□my horizon□, □n□ deepened m□ □nder□tan□ing of the worl□ a□d those a□o□nd m□□ The□ripple□ of this □ncoun□e□ would c□nt□□ue to reson□□e□long after o□□ path□ diverged□ influenci□g the course of my □our□ey in wa□s □ot□ s□btle□and profou□□.