At the pool entrance

Omar finished his swim early. Priya was still in the changing room, and both of their phones had spent the last hour in lockers.

They were walking home together. The leisure centre had a side door, a cafe exit, and a main entrance where neither of them particularly wanted to stand guessing.

Before their swim, they had agreed on the main entrance and a Quick Ping in their two-person room: “Ready at the pool entrance.”

Omar dried his hair, collected his bag, and sent it once he was outside. Then he sat on the low wall beside the doors.

Priya saw the notification when she took her phone from her locker. She finished getting ready and headed straight for the main exit.

She found Omar trying to fold a damp towel into a bag that was too small. He gave up when she appeared. They walked home arguing about where to get breakfast.