This was not the plan

Zaria Chukwuma has always known where her life is going-or at least, she thought she did.

Fresh out of Oxford and standing at the beginning of everything she's worked for, a trip to Milan is supposed to be a break before real life begins. Then she runs into Tobi Adewale, a familiar face from a childhood she thought she'd left behind.

One unexpected reunion becomes something harder to ignore, and suddenly Zaria's carefully planned future doesn't feel quite so certain.

Because growing up means making choices. And sometimes, not everything goes according to plan.

Author's Note & AI Disclaimer

This story, including its original concept, characters, plot, relationships, themes, and creative direction, was conceived by the author. Artificial intelligence was used as a creative tool during parts of the writing process, including assisting with drafting, phrasing and editing of scenes.

AI was used to support the author's creative process, not to replace it. The final story reflects the author's ideas, decisions, revisions, and creative vision.