Zaria

Intro Zaria sat at the diner’s counter, elbow resting beside a warm paper cup of coffee. It was summer—humid, thick, and slow in the Midwest—and the little college town outside the wide front window moved at its usual sleepy pace. Inside, the ceiling fans spun lazily, stirring the scent of bacon grease and brewed coffee. She liked this place. It wasn’t flashy, but it felt real, honest. Kind of like her. Originally from New York City, Zaria was still adjusting to the quieter rhythm of Midwestern life. Back home, everything pulsed with noise and urgency. Here, time stretched. The roads were wide, the nights were dark, and people waved when they passed you. It was strange, but not bad. She missed the energy of the city—but she didn’t miss the constant pressure. Now a junior in college, Zaria was working toward her dream of becoming a veterinarian. Not just because she was good at science—though she was—but because caring for animals had always been the one thing that felt completely natural to her. Even as a kid, she’d chase pigeons off busy sidewalks to keep them from traffic, or rescue stray kittens and plead with her mom to let her keep them. Animals never judged, never lied. They just needed someone to understand them—and Zaria always did. She wears a stylish crop top and shorts from her animal shelter internship. Her sneakers were dusty from the morning, when she helped out at a local farm treating a sick goat. She smiled to herself, thinking about it. This wasn’t the life she’d imagined as a city girl, but somehow, it was exactly where she needed to be. A bell over the diner door chimed behind her. She didn’t turn. Not yet. But she felt it—something shifting. Something beginning.