In 2016, Laurie Singer, then 66 years old, embarked on a journey to conquer the John Muir Trail (JMT) in the Sierra Nevada mountain range. This is one of the longest and most challenging trails in the US. Her companion was John, a close friend and long-time training partner.

However, the trip quickly turned into a nightmare. New to hiking, Singer struggled to adapt and developed altitude sickness after only a few days. Instead of stopping to help, John casually pressed forward, leaving her to struggle behind.

"As night fell, I found myself alone and lost. I burst into tears out of fear," she recalled. When she caught up with her friend at the campsite, John casually explained that abandoning her was a "test" and suggested she quit because she was moving too slowly.

Laurie Singer on a hike. Photo: New York Post.

Laurie Singer on a hike. Photo: New York Post.

The peak of his cruelty came when Singer was blurry-eyed and exhausted at 3,700 m. John told her to set up her own tent, find her way down the mountain to catch a ride, then threw her an energy bar along with his trash bag for her to dispose of.

Thanks to the help of kind hikers, Singer survived and returned, but was diagnosed with brain edema, a leg infection, and severe physical exhaustion. That horrific experience officially marked the end of their decade-long friendship.

Singer's experience is not isolated. On social media, this phenomenon is called "Alpine divorce" – a term referring to someone abandoning their partner, family member, or friend in the wilderness due to impatience.

On TikTok and X, thousands have shared similar stories of abandonment. One video, garnering 26 million views, captured a woman sobbing after being left on a rocky mountain by her boyfriend, with the caption: "That's when you realize he never cared about you."

According to US psychologist Tina Dixon, harsh circumstances serve as the clearest mirror reflecting the true state of a relationship. "Through hardship and adversity, you will know if the other person is protective or merely selfish," Dixon stated.

The expert further noted that being cruelly left behind is not simply a mismatch in physical abilities, but a warning bell for individuals to re-evaluate and decisively end a toxic relationship.

Nhat Minh (According to New York Post)