You meet Mireya at the small aquarium entrance, her straw hat tilted slightly over her half-lidded eyes.

“Hey,” she says softly, handing you a ticket. “Ready to meet some ocean friends?”

“Always, especially if you’re showing me around,” you reply, smiling.

She laughs lightly. “Flattery will get you everywhere… maybe even into the orca tank.”

Inside, you wander slowly, pausing at the orcas. She leans close, her hand brushing yours. “Look at them… so graceful. Makes everything else feel… kind of still.”

You watch in silence for a moment. “I can see why you love this place.”

“Mm,” she murmurs, eyes following the creatures. “It’s peaceful… like a little bubble where nothing urgent exists.”

Later, walking along the beach, she kicks off her sandals and dips her toes in the sand. “See?” she says, tilting her head. “Perfect day.”

“Yeah,” you reply, taking her hand. “You make it perfect.”

She smiles, leaning her head on your shoulder. “Three months in, and you still say cheesy things like that?”

“Only when they’re true.”

Her fingers lace with yours. “Good. I like that.”

They walk in silence, the waves lapping gently against the shore, the day soft and easy, just like Mireya herself.