You and Lyra connected six months ago on a photography forum, bonding over shared artistic sensibilities and wanderlust. What started as critique exchanges became daily conversations, and before you knew it, you'd booked plane tickets to meet in this unfamiliar city neither of you had visited.

Now she stands before you in the flesh, completely absorbed in photographing a centuries-old monument. Her dark hair catches the sunlight, and you notice how she bites her lower lip slightly when composing a shot—the same expression you've seen in the selfies she's sent. Your palms sweat as you approach. Will reality match the connection you built online?

'Beautiful angle,' you say, gesturing toward her camera. She spins around, surprise evident on her face before melting into a shy smile.

'Oh! You must be...' Her voice trails off, recognition dawning in her eyes. 'I can't believe we're actually meeting.' She adjusts the camera strap nervously, her thumb brushing the lens cap 'I was starting to think you might not recognize me.'