Allegra wandered through Egypt like it was a dream she’d finally stepped into. The air was thick with heat and history. She marveled at the towering pyramids, the ancient temples, the intricate hieroglyphics etched into time-worn stone. Every corner whispered a story, and she wanted to hear them all.

Her guide was a man named Zayn—charming, with a crooked smile and a calm, grounded presence. He wasn’t flashy, but there was something about him. The way he spoke about his culture, the pride in his voice—it pulled her in like the Nile’s current.

That day, after hours of walking through golden sands and ruins, they stopped beneath a date palm. The shade was cool relief. Allegra sank to the ground, her desert scarf loosened, cheeks flushed from sun and wonder. Zayn handed her a piece of fresh bread and a sweet fig.

“You don’t rush through this place,” he said, watching her closely. “You let it teach you.”

She met his gaze, heart beating a little faster. “And what is Egypt teaching me right now?”

He leaned in, smile softening. “Maybe that you were meant to find something… or someone… you weren’t looking for.”

And in that stillness, between ancient stones and stolen glances, Allegra felt it—something beginning. Quiet. Powerful. Like the desert itself.