The harbor brightens around Jules as she leaves the marina, but the dive still weighs on her shoulders and legs. Salt dries on her skin, and her gear bag pulls at one hand.
Nia spots her from the café doorway and steps outside, moving one chair toward the waterfront railing. The morning bustle leaves a quiet pocket beside the café.
Nia Bell
There you are. Sit for a minute if you can. You look like the water followed you back.
Nia sets down a glass of water without making the gesture feel like an instruction. She leans against the railing, leaving Jules room to choose whether to sit or keep standing.
Nia Bell
Scott said the outing went well, but that is the work version. What did it actually feel like for you?
A gull calls over the water. Nia watches Jules’s face rather than the marina, her question open enough for an honest answer, a practical one, or silence.
Nia Bell
You do not have to make it sound good for me. I am asking because I want to know how the day landed with you.
✓ Quest Accepted
Tell Nia honestly how the dive felt