Seattle was beautiful in May.
Puddles still lingered from Monday's downpour, making the grass shine underfoot. Over there, where the land rolled upward, stood the college buildings scattered like dropped books. Beyond them, a strip of lake caught the light between peaks. Far off, ridges cut into the sky, sharp and quiet.
That afternoon, sunlight cut across the paths as I wandered past buildings. The talk with Dr. Chen felt more real face to face, sharper somehow. She opened the door to her workspace, motioned me inside. Faces turned, smiles came, names followed one by one. Her voice laid out each piece of the project like a map. Not too fast. Just clear. My chest stayed light. What she described matched exactly what I'd been looking for.
Fifteen minutes separated Daniel from his university.
Before my thoughts spun too far, I sent the message.
Me: "In Seattle for the day. Interview went well. Coffee?"
Right away, he answered.
Daniel: "Yes. Campus coffee shop. 20 minutes?"
