fix(tui): fix escape loop in search flow and add regression tests

Esc from SearchInput and Search view now always returns to Dashboard
instead of using PrevScreen, which could point to SearchResults and
cause an infinite loop. Added PrevScreen reset on SearchResults escape
and search input clear when entering search from dashboard.

Co-authored fixes from PR #16 that were lost during merge conflict.

Author: Alan-TheGentleman

internal/tui/update.go

@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ func (m Model) handleSearchInputKeys(msg tea.KeyMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 		return m, nil
 	case "esc":
 		m.SearchInput.Blur()
-		m.Screen = m.PrevScreen
+		m.Screen = ScreenDashboard
 		m.Cursor = 0
 		return m, nil
 	}
@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@ func (m Model) handleSearchInputKeys(msg tea.KeyMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 func (m Model) handleSearchKeys(key string) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 	switch key {
 	case "esc", "q":
-		m.Screen = m.PrevScreen
+		m.Screen = ScreenDashboard
 		m.Cursor = 0
 		return m, nil
 	case "i", "/":

internal/tui/update_test.go

@@ -567,6 +567,86 @@ func TestHandleSearchResultsAndObservationDetailRemainingBranches(t *testing.T)
 	}
 }
 
+func TestSearchEscapeFlowNoLoop(t *testing.T) {
+	// Verifies the full escape chain never loops back:
+	// Dashboard → Search → Results → ObsDetail → Esc → Results → Esc → Search → Esc → Dashboard
+
+	m := New(nil, "")
+	m.Height = 20
+	m.SearchResults = []store.SearchResult{{Observation: store.Observation{ID: 42}}}
+
+	// Step 1: from SearchResults, enter ObservationDetail — PrevScreen = ScreenSearchResults
+	m.Screen = ScreenSearchResults
+	m.Cursor = 0
+	updatedModel, _ := m.handleSearchResultsKeys("enter")
+	m = updatedModel.(Model)
+	if m.PrevScreen != ScreenSearchResults {
+		t.Fatalf("after enter, PrevScreen should be ScreenSearchResults, got %v", m.PrevScreen)
+	}
+
+	// Step 2: from ObservationDetail, Esc → back to SearchResults (via PrevScreen)
+	m.Screen = ScreenObservationDetail
+	m.SelectedObservation = &store.Observation{ID: 42}
+	updatedModel, _ = m.handleObservationDetailKeys("esc")
+	m = updatedModel.(Model)
+	if m.Screen != ScreenSearchResults {
+		t.Fatalf("esc from ObservationDetail should go to ScreenSearchResults, got %v", m.Screen)
+	}
+
+	// Step 3: from SearchResults, Esc → back to ScreenSearch, PrevScreen reset to Dashboard
+	m.Screen = ScreenSearchResults
+	updatedModel, _ = m.handleSearchResultsKeys("esc")
+	m = updatedModel.(Model)
+	if m.Screen != ScreenSearch {
+		t.Fatalf("esc from SearchResults should go to ScreenSearch, got %v", m.Screen)
+	}
+	if m.PrevScreen != ScreenDashboard {
+		t.Fatalf("esc from SearchResults should reset PrevScreen to ScreenDashboard, got %v", m.PrevScreen)
+	}
+
+	// Step 4: from Search (no input focused), Esc → always Dashboard, never loops
+	m.Screen = ScreenSearch
+	updatedModel, _ = m.handleSearchKeys("esc")
+	m = updatedModel.(Model)
+	if m.Screen != ScreenDashboard {
+		t.Fatalf("esc from Search should always go to ScreenDashboard, got %v", m.Screen)
+	}
+
+	// Step 5: from Search input focused, Esc → always Dashboard, never loops
+	m.Screen = ScreenSearch
+	m.PrevScreen = ScreenSearchResults // simulate stale PrevScreen — must NOT be used
+	m.SearchInput.Focus()
+	updatedModel, _ = m.handleSearchInputKeys(tea.KeyMsg{Type: tea.KeyEscape})
+	m = updatedModel.(Model)
+	if m.Screen != ScreenDashboard {
+		t.Fatalf("esc from SearchInput should always go to ScreenDashboard regardless of PrevScreen, got %v", m.Screen)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSearchInputClearedOnEnterFromDashboard(t *testing.T) {
+	// Verifies the search input is cleared each time search is opened from dashboard
+	m := New(nil, "")
+	m.Screen = ScreenDashboard
+	m.SearchInput.SetValue("old query")
+
+	// Open via keyboard shortcut "s"
+	updatedModel, _ := m.handleDashboardKeys("s")
+	m = updatedModel.(Model)
+	if m.SearchInput.Value() != "" {
+		t.Fatalf("search input should be cleared when opening search, got %q", m.SearchInput.Value())
+	}
+
+	// Open via dashboard selection (menu item 0)
+	m.Screen = ScreenDashboard
+	m.SearchInput.SetValue("another stale query")
+	m.Cursor = 0
+	updatedModel, _ = m.handleDashboardSelection()
+	m = updatedModel.(Model)
+	if m.SearchInput.Value() != "" {
+		t.Fatalf("search input should be cleared on dashboard selection, got %q", m.SearchInput.Value())
+	}
+}
+
 func TestHandleSessionsAndSetupRemainingBranches(t *testing.T) {
 	fx := newTestFixture(t)
 	m := New(fx.store, "")