The Surveyor's True North

. Adara learned that Kian had studied abroad, had a passion for jazz music, and volunteered at a local youth mentorship program. He, in turn,

ng his drink. "It's rare to hear someone speak with s

s been my biggest cheerleaders, even w

eaks, but rather the patterns she'd observed – the slow erosion of compatibility, the feeling of being

eciate the full scope of who you are," he said softly. "Your ambiti

o one had ever framed it quite like that before, and a quiet warmth spread

, simply talking, often finding themselves finishing each other's sentences, a comfortable silence settling between them that spoke volumes. Adara found herself laughing more, a gen

iliar signs of disinterest or incompatibility. When he had to cancel a dinner due to an urgent site issue, her mind immediately jumped to conclusions, remembering past e

to her. "Adara, I know you've been hurt before. And I respect your caution. But I want you to k

had spent so long charting precise courses, but with Kian, she felt like she was sailing into uncharted