This photo captures a morning hike to the top of Mount Batur. Though not the tallest volcano in Indonesia, for us, it was unforgettable. We took this picture in late 2017, when nearby Mount Agung was stirring and people were being told to leave its slopes. But from our safe spot on Batur, we could see Agung’s smoky shape in the distance.

We began our walk in the dark, following a path lit only by our torches, so we could reach the summit at sunrise. The light that morning was soft and golden, and there were two of us on the trail. Yet, it felt as if someone else was quietly with us—a gentle hope for the future, waiting just out of sight. That made our moment on the mountain even more special.