Ethan met Nora through a mutual friend on a climbing trip that was never meant to turn serious. It was supposed to be a casual weekend—ropes, harnesses, a few easy routes, beers afterward. Nothing ambitious.
Nora had shown up late, apologizing as she tied back her hair, borrowing chalk from whoever had extra. She wasn’t loud or competitive, but Ethan noticed how carefully she studied the rock before climbing—how she paused, traced lines with her eyes, then moved with quiet confidence once she committed.