Is there such thing as a coincidence or is it just another synonym to "fate"?

Life’s experience made me realize there is a reason for everything. It is just beyond understanding how many strings are needed to be pulled so that one choice of a particular person can be made. How all existing and breathing on this Earth is actually connected, every choice of every person, every not-choosing of the same person, every step and every thought changes entirely the way of living of the whole population.

So when something truly unexpected happens in my life, I start to question every single thing I knew before. For instance, they say: "It's just a coincidence". Well, is it? Is there even such a concept? Or was it made up just for people to avoid their destiny? Personally, I do believe in fate, especially after so many “ifs” to one particular moment that proved me right.

Sometime in December:

To be honest there were not the happiest weeks the last couple of month, so one moment I’ve just thought: "Screw this, I need to get away. A change of scenery might come in handy". My friend and I planned to meet each other in her city on Friday that by the way is 180 km from my place of living. Well, due to her will for adventures (and don’t make me even get started on that) our meeting was rearranged to today. Not being so big on Mondays, I went anyway.

There I was at the train station in my third try of buying a ticket. As you can feel, I lost my battle to the “Koleo” application and let it offer me a ride an hour later. Having absolutely no urge and time to have low-cost breakfast at home, I decided it was the day to spend a fortune on a warming tea and sandwich, just so you know, they didn't actually have “a cold tea” in the offer. Well, nonetheless, I went for it. Finishing my fourth step towards so-called cafeteria (I have to admit coffee there was really delicious)… so finishing my fourth step and subconsciously raising my left foot - I saw her. I saw HER.

A young, beautiful woman, who was of approximately 180 cm height wearing an acid-pink sweatshirt with her pony-tail hair, stood behind the counter giving change. I was stunned. “How old am I? It can’t be”… Yeah, it can. Yes, it was. When, the first wave of shock and uncertainness left me, I was ready to “make a move”. From that second and on I totally forgot how much I was craving something slightly reminding of food. I thought: “Well, it must be awkward, if I just scream her name and jump there to hug her”. I wasn’t sure, therefore I tried to understand whether she had an accent. Not a hint! Damn it!

What else could I have done? I was standing there behind sandwiches trying to see something that would prove my idea. I was acting like a lunatic… Okay, whatever, I’ll just ask her. So coming towards the counter I was just like “Hi, I’ll ask you only one thing, is your name …?” and she’s like “Dasha”. From that moment both of us were stunned, although she couldn’t allow herself to do that taking under consideration the fact that she was on her shift.

We didn’t have so much in common except for Azov Sea coast’s camp, where we met in 2017. We were of different age, were living in 400 km from each other, never met before and probably weren’t supposed to meet after. So I’ve thought and there we were. AT THE FUCKING TRAIN STATION IN POLAND, far away from our homes, from the lives we used to have. AT THE FUCKING TRAIN STATION, I could NOT believe this, I still can’t.

If it wasn’t for my friend, if it wasn’t for my choice to get away, if it wasn’t for the stupid app, if it wasn’t for the breakfast I never had, if it wasn’t for THE WAR and every other “if” that caused an opportunity for both of us to stand there in that place in that time of 2022 – we WOULD HAVE NEVER PROBABLY EVEN MET.

What is your answer to this? Is it just a coincidence? I can assure you, for me, for both of us it meant only one thing – fate. Everything happens for a reason, doesn’t it? Well, the reason to that totally (in a good way) shocking meeting we are yet to find out.