diff --git a/crates/plannotator-tui/src/app/mod.rs b/crates/plannotator-tui/src/app/mod.rs
index 10eb1be..e18e65c 100644
--- a/crates/plannotator-tui/src/app/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/plannotator-tui/src/app/mod.rs
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ mod send;
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests;
 
+use std::collections::HashMap;
 use std::fmt::Write as _;
 use std::ops::Range;
 use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
@@ -139,6 +140,13 @@ pub(crate) struct App {
     /// Minutes east of UTC used to draw message times. Pinned in tests so the picker
     /// renders the same on any machine.
     clock_offset: i32,
+    /// The candidate currently on screen, and the one Esc goes back to.
+    pick_open: usize,
+    pick_return: usize,
+    /// Documents already built for candidates. Previewing swaps `open`, and a reply
+    /// review's annotations live only in memory, so the one being left is kept here
+    /// rather than dropped.
+    pick_cache: HashMap<usize, Open>,
     message_host: String,
     message_transcript: String,
     compose: Compose,
@@ -195,6 +203,9 @@ impl App {
             candidates: Vec::new(),
             pick_cursor: 0,
             clock_offset: pick::local_offset_minutes(),
+            pick_open: 0,
+            pick_return: 0,
+            pick_cache: HashMap::new(),
             message_host: String::new(),
             message_transcript: String::new(),
             compose: Compose::default(),
diff --git a/crates/plannotator-tui/src/app/pick.rs b/crates/plannotator-tui/src/app/pick.rs
index 6ea80b9..47dbaab 100644
--- a/crates/plannotator-tui/src/app/pick.rs
+++ b/crates/plannotator-tui/src/app/pick.rs
@@ -40,17 +40,40 @@ impl App {
         Ok(app)
     }
 
-    /// Swap the open document for candidate `index`.
-    fn open_candidate(&mut self, index: usize) -> Result<()> {
-        let Some(message) = self.candidates.get(index) else { return Ok(()) };
-        let source = message_source(&self.message_host, &self.message_transcript, message);
-        self.open = Open::new(source, self.open.layout.width, &self.data_dir, &self.project)?;
+    /// Show candidate `index` behind the picker, staying in the picker.
+    ///
+    /// The document being left is kept rather than dropped. A reply review's
+    /// annotations live only in memory, so moving away from one and back again must
+    /// not lose them.
+    fn show_candidate(&mut self, index: usize) -> Result<()> {
+        if index == self.pick_open {
+            return Ok(());
+        }
+        let next = if let Some(open) = self.pick_cache.remove(&index) {
+            open
+        } else {
+            let Some(message) = self.candidates.get(index) else { return Ok(()) };
+            let source = message_source(&self.message_host, &self.message_transcript, message);
+            Open::new(source, self.open.layout.width, &self.data_dir, &self.project)?
+        };
+        let leaving = std::mem::replace(&mut self.open, next);
+        self.pick_cache.insert(self.pick_open, leaving);
+        self.pick_open = index;
         self.scroll = 0;
         self.selected = 0;
         self.cursor = (0, 0);
         self.rail_cursor = 0;
         self.clear_selection();
         self.derive_send_state();
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    /// Swap the open document for candidate `index` and leave the picker.
+    fn open_candidate(&mut self, index: usize) -> Result<()> {
+        if self.candidates.get(index).is_none() {
+            return Ok(());
+        }
+        self.show_candidate(index)?;
         self.mode = Mode::Browse;
         self.status = Some(format!("message {} of {}", index + 1, self.candidates.len()));
         Ok(())
@@ -58,6 +81,8 @@ impl App {
 
     pub(super) fn reopen_picker(&mut self) {
         if self.candidates.len() > 1 {
+            self.pick_return = self.pick_open;
+            self.pick_cursor = self.pick_open;
             self.mode = Mode::Pick;
         }
     }
@@ -65,10 +90,20 @@ impl App {
     pub(super) fn pick_key(&mut self, key: KeyEvent) -> Result<()> {
         let last = self.candidates.len().saturating_sub(1);
         match key.code {
-            KeyCode::Char('j') | KeyCode::Down => self.pick_cursor = (self.pick_cursor + 1).min(last),
-            KeyCode::Char('k') | KeyCode::Up => self.pick_cursor = self.pick_cursor.saturating_sub(1),
+            KeyCode::Char('j') | KeyCode::Down => {
+                self.pick_cursor = (self.pick_cursor + 1).min(last);
+                return self.show_candidate(self.pick_cursor);
+            }
+            KeyCode::Char('k') | KeyCode::Up => {
+                self.pick_cursor = self.pick_cursor.saturating_sub(1);
+                return self.show_candidate(self.pick_cursor);
+            }
             KeyCode::Enter => return self.open_candidate(self.pick_cursor),
-            KeyCode::Esc => self.mode = Mode::Browse,
+            KeyCode::Esc => {
+                self.show_candidate(self.pick_return)?;
+                self.pick_cursor = self.pick_return;
+                self.mode = Mode::Browse;
+            }
             KeyCode::Char('q') => self.quit = true,
             _ => {}
         }
@@ -101,7 +136,10 @@ impl App {
             .border_type(BorderType::Rounded)
             .border_style(Style::new().fg(Color::Cyan))
             .title(Span::styled(" which message? ", Style::new().dim()))
-            .title_bottom(Span::styled(" ↑↓ choose · enter open · esc newest · q quit ", Style::new().dim()));
+            .title_bottom(Span::styled(
+                " ↑↓ preview · enter open · esc cancel · q quit ",
+                Style::new().dim(),
+            ));
         let inner = boxed.inner(rect);
         frame.render_widget(boxed, rect);
         let mut pick_rows = Vec::new();
diff --git a/crates/plannotator-tui/src/app/tests.rs b/crates/plannotator-tui/src/app/tests.rs
index 9288a8d..406a053 100644
--- a/crates/plannotator-tui/src/app/tests.rs
+++ b/crates/plannotator-tui/src/app/tests.rs
@@ -138,6 +138,34 @@ fn escaping_the_picker_keeps_the_newest_message() {
     assert_eq!(app.mode, Mode::Pick, "p reopens the picker");
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn moving_the_picker_cursor_previews_that_message() {
+    let mut app = App::open_message("claude", "/tmp/transcript.jsonl", candidates(), 60, Box::new(Discard))
+        .expect("opens");
+    assert_eq!(app.open.doc.source, "# Third\n\nnewest message\n", "the newest opens behind the picker");
+
+    app.handle_event(&Event::Key(KeyEvent::from(KeyCode::Char('j')))).expect("j");
+
+    assert_eq!(app.mode, Mode::Pick, "previewing does not leave the picker");
+    assert_eq!(app.open.doc.source, "# Second\n\nmiddle message\n", "the document follows the cursor");
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn previewing_away_and_back_keeps_annotations() {
+    let mut app = App::open_message("claude", "/tmp/transcript.jsonl", candidates(), 60, Box::new(Discard))
+        .expect("opens");
+    app.handle_event(&Event::Key(KeyEvent::from(KeyCode::Esc))).expect("esc");
+    app.add_block_annotation(0, Kind::Comment, "keep me".to_owned()).expect("annotate");
+    assert_eq!(app.open.store.placed().len(), 1);
+
+    app.handle_event(&Event::Key(KeyEvent::from(KeyCode::Char('p')))).expect("p");
+    app.handle_event(&Event::Key(KeyEvent::from(KeyCode::Char('j')))).expect("j");
+    app.handle_event(&Event::Key(KeyEvent::from(KeyCode::Char('k')))).expect("k");
+
+    assert_eq!(app.open.doc.source, "# Third\n\nnewest message\n", "back where we started");
+    assert_eq!(app.open.store.placed().len(), 1, "a reply review only holds annotations in memory");
+}
+
 /// A folder of `count` Markdown files named `f00.md`, `f01.md`, … in a fresh temp dir.
 fn folder(count: usize) -> PathBuf {
     let root = std::env::temp_dir().join(format!("plannotator-tui-folder-{}", std::process::id()));