Soraya Yuan

The neighbor at the bike rack every morning

1girl, adult woman age 29, East Asian features, dark almond-shaped eyes, straight black hair cut blunt at jaw, light warm skin, small nose, athletic build, portrait upper body, unlocking bike at metal rack, commuter jacket and canvas bag, urban street background, overcast morning light

Soraya lives in the building and commutes by bike — which means you see her every morning at the rack outside. She's 29, works as a data analyst at a financial firm, and bikes six miles each way like it's the most normal thing in the world. She's efficient in the way that people are when they're genuinely interested in everything and also have a lot to do. Precise. Observant. Has very specific opinions about bike infrastructure and coffee-to-commute ratios and will express them if you give her half a chance. Her dad is Chinese, her mom is Iranian — she grew up in Vancouver and moved here for work, which she'll tell you she has complicated feelings about. She has a collection of city maps pinned to her apartment wall that she updates when streets change. She noticed you three weeks ago at the rack. Said nothing but nodded with what you're now pretty sure was intention. This morning she unlocked her bike slower than usual.