I pick up my friend Til Bobek and we drive from Maribor to Ruš, a nearby town from where a beautiful mountain trail leads to the top of Pohorje. Few people know about it, which is why one can really enjoy the peace and the genuine embrace of nature.
After a few minutes of walking, my friend casually mentions that he has a twinge in his knee. Nothing worse, probably from a sleepless night, during which he had only briefly closed his eyes because of the party that had lasted until the early hours of the morning. It will work, the body just needs to warm up and wake up!
I heard him mention his knee a few more times until Areh, but in reality none of us paid much attention. The conversation even turned to a joke about whether he had insurance from the Slovenian Mountaineering Association in case the mountain rescue service had to come.
"I'd rather go on all fours than have someone come looking for me!" he boasted, cutting himself.
We drank tea, ate a strudel, as befits a true mountaineer, and threw her into the valley - on the circular route, which adds another five km, because it was a freaking sunny Sunday! We threw her across the flat as a joke, but when the trail started to descend ...
Proud and excited by the idea that we had decided to bring the colours of nature into the day, we first spoke over each other ... Then my voice became more and more audible, his only murmuring now and then in acknowledgement ... Until only mine was audible ...
"Tilen, are you even listening to me? Tilen?" If she hadn't turned around, she wouldn't have noticed that his stride had slowed down considerably and was more like rolling over sticks than walking.
Six kilometres separated us from the valley and it was becoming clearer that Tiln's steps would soon come to a definitive halt.
"It'll work, it'll work somehow," he kept telling himself, more than me, and you could see in his face that he was counting every metre of the way.
We reached the road - a chance for a quicker return! If only someone would drive... Lonely roads are suddenly no longer very convenient in situations like this.
"Look, the car is moving!" I exclaim, and his face lights up with relief. We pulled over and I waved cheerfully to the driver. And waved ... And waved ... Until the car disappeared around the next bend. Really? Did he really not see me waving? Did it really just drive past us without even slowing down? I couldn't understand it at all and for the next half an hour I was more concerned with the question of how he could have driven so carelessly than with Tilno's moaning.
"Nusa, another car is coming!" Before I could turn around, a car pulled up beside us.
"Am I driving you? Come on, come on, so we don't have to walk." Is this really happening? I rushed to explain that my friend had injured his knee and was in pain, but the gentleman was not interested. When I asked him if he really could, he shouted:
"Sure, come on, I like helping people! Will someone sit in the front or should we both sit in the back? As you both prefer!" We wanted to go in, but the door was locked.
"Sorry, the car is brand new, I don't know how to unlock it." Tilen cleverly explained how to use the switches and when we opened the door, the truth was more than clear - the car was so new that probably no one had ever sat in it before - without a single dirty spot! I looked at my walking shoes, thought about taking them off, but my trousers were just as muddy up to my knees. We started apologising ...
"Ah, come on, who cares about cleanliness if they need help! Come on, sit down! If it's dirty, I'll clean it later." He told us that his name was Matjaž and is on his way to work, but is happy to take us wherever we need to go.
And we really did. We apologised again for the muddy footprints on the seats of the brand new car, and he kept waving his hand.
"Don't say thank you. Because of you, I now know how to unlock the back door! I live up here, come and see me sometime if you're going to walk around these parts again!"
"We'll come and bring you some coffee to repay you for your help."
"No, no, I don't drink coffee. Just come in. Come and visit. They seem nice company. Good luck!"
He waved us off with goodwill in his heart, and I just stood there for a few moments, thinking about the incredible power of "small" actions. Indeed - seemingly tiny, out-of-the-ordinary, but in fact worth more than the cost of the most expensive taxi. They awaken faith that our world is filled with genuine and good-hearted people, honest and trustworthy!
Nuša Maver, 5. 2. 2025
English (UK) 
Slovenščina 
Italiano 
Magyar