Hassan is staying at a hotel. He just moved into a room on the fifth floor. He takes the elevator down to the lobby. The lobby is big and bright. There are soft chairs near the window. Hassan sits down and puts his bag on the floor. He looks around the room. He sees a man standing near the front desk. The man has a small suitcase. He looks a little lost. Hassan smiles at him.

The man smiles back. Hassan stands up and walks over. He says, "Hello, my name is Hassan." The man looks happy to hear a friendly voice. The man says, "Hi! I'm Marco. I just arrived today." Hassan says, "Me too! I moved in yesterday." Marco says, "Are you staying on a high floor?" Hassan says, "Yes, I'm on the fifth floor. What about you?" Marco says, "I'm on the third floor." Hassan says, "That's great! We are neighbors." Marco laughs and says, "Yes, I guess we are!" Hassan asks, "Where are you from?" Marco says, "I'm from a city in the south. It's quite warm there. What about you?" Hassan says, "I'm from a small town near the coast.

It is very quiet there." Marco nods and says, "That sounds nice." Hassan says, "Do you know anyone else in the hotel?" Marco shakes his head and says, "No, not yet." Hassan points to the chairs by the window. He says, "Do you want to sit down for a bit?" Marco smiles and says, "Yes, I'd like that." They walk over and sit together. A staff member brings them two glasses of water. Hassan says, "Thank you." He looks at Marco and says, "It's always good to know your neighbors." Marco nods and says, "I agree. It feels less lonely that way." Hassan says, "If you need anything, just knock on my door." Marco looks grateful and says, "Thank you, Hassan. That is very kind." Hassan says, "No problem at all." They talk for a long time. They talk about their rooms and the hotel. By the end of the evening, Hassan and Marco feel like old friends. Hassan is happy he said hello.

Hassan had been staying at the hotel for just over a day when he first noticed the man by the front desk. The man was standing with a small suitcase at his feet, scanning the lobby with the slightly uncertain expression of someone who had just arrived somewhere new. Hassan recognized that look immediately. He had worn it himself only the day before. He picked up his room key from the armchair beside him, crossed the lobby, and extended his hand. "Hi there," he said warmly. "My name is Hassan. Are you just checking in?" The man looked relieved to be spoken to and shook his hand firmly.

"I am," he said. "I'm Marco. Good to meet you." They quickly discovered that their rooms were on neighboring floors, which made Hassan laugh. "So we really are neighbors," he said. "Just separated by a ceiling." Marco smiled and asked where Hassan was from. Hassan explained that he came from a quiet coastal town, and Marco mentioned that he had grown up in a warm city further inland. They had taken very different paths to end up in the same hotel lobby, and yet the conversation felt easy and natural from the start.

Hassan appreciated that Marco was genuinely curious, asking thoughtful questions rather than simply waiting for his turn to speak. After a while, Hassan suggested they sit in the chairs near the window, and Marco agreed without hesitation. A staff member brought them water without being asked, and they continued talking well into the evening. By the time they finally said goodnight, they had exchanged room numbers and agreed to have breakfast together the following morning. As Hassan rode the elevator back up to the fifth floor, he reflected on how a single small decision, choosing to walk over and say hello, had turned a quiet evening into the beginning of a real friendship. He made a mental note to always introduce himself to new neighbors, wherever he happened to be staying.