The soft hum of the ceiling fan was the only sound in the room when Elena felt a gentle knock on her door. She wasn't fully awake yet hovering somewhere between dreams and the real world but the familiar voice that followed pulled her to the surface.
"Elena… sweetheart, are you awake?" her mom asked, pushing the door open a little.
Elena blinked her eyes open, brushing loose curls away from her forehead. Her mother stepped inside wearing her work uniform navy blue slacks, a cream blouse tucked neatly in, and her ID card hanging from a lanyard. She smelled faintly of cocoa butter and the floral scent of the hair cream she used every morning.
"I'm awake," Elena said, though she sounded half-asleep.
Her mom smiled softly and walked over to sit on the edge of her bed. "Mm-hmm. You don't look awake," she teased, tapping Elena's foot under the blanket.
Elena smiled sleepily. "Give me like… five more minutes."
"Nope." Her mom shook her head and crossed her arms playfully. "You said that yesterday, and next thing I knew, you overslept and we were all rushing like mad people."
Elena groaned quietly. "Okay, okay. I'm up."
Her mom's expression softened again, and she brushed a curl away from Elena's cheek like she'd been doing since Elena was a toddler. "Long day ahead?"
"Kind of." Elena stretched her arms. "I have a presentation later, and I'm meeting Amy before class."
"Ah, Amy." Her mom chuckled. "That girl has more energy than the entire neighborhood combined."
"She really does," Elena laughed.
There was a brief silence one of those pauses that didn't feel awkward, just familiar. Her mom sighed gently, the kind of sigh she released when she was thinking about things she didn't always voice.
"You're growing so fast," she said softly. "Sometimes I look at you and see my little girl with beads in her hair and oversized backpacks."
Elena's chest warmed. "I'm still your little girl."
"Hmm. Until you graduate, start working, and forget your poor mother."
"Impossible." Elena scoffed. "You're literally my favorite person."
Her mom pretended to wipe a tear dramatically. "Let me pretend I didn't hear 'literally.' But thank you."
They both laughed.
Then her mom stood, smoothing her blouse. "Okay, I just came to check in before leaving. Make sure your sister is awake. She has that spelling test today."
Elena sat up fully now. "I'll get her ready."
"And please eat something. Not just coffee. Real food."
"Yes, ma'am."
Her mom leaned over and kissed her forehead. "I'll see you girls later. Have a beautiful day, my love."
"You too, Mom," Elena said as she watched her walk out, closing the door behind her.
For a moment, the room felt still. Quiet. Morning light filtered through the curtains, casting soft lines across her bed sheets. Elena stretched again, this time fully committing to waking up. She grabbed her phone from the nightstand 6:03 AM.
Time to move.
She swung her legs off the bed and padded across the cool floor to her wardrobe. While she started pulling out her outfit for the day, a casual cream top and jeans she heard her little sister's door creak open.
"Elena?" A small voice called.
"In here," she answered.
Her nine-year-old sister, Maya, peeked in, rubbing her eye with a tiny fist. Her hair was a wild puff of curls, and her face still carried the softness of sleep. "Mom left already?"
"Yeah, she just left. Come on, let's get ready," Elena said, bending to ruffle her hair.
Maya yawned. "I don't wanna go."
"You say that every morning," Elena said, laughing. "You'll be fine. You have a test today, remember?"
Maya groaned dramatically. "Yes, and I'm scared."
"You studied yesterday."
"I know, but I'm still scared."
"It's okay to be scared," Elena said, kneeling to Maya's level. "It means you care. But you're smart. You'll do great."
Maya's pout slowly softened. "Okay."
"Now go brush your teeth," Elena instructed. "I'm right behind you."
The next thirty minutes were a blur of routine helping Maya find matching socks, braiding her hair into neat puffs, packing her lunch, making sure she actually ate breakfast instead of picking at it.
Elena settled for two slices of toast, an apple, and tea. Her mom's voice echoed in her mind: Not just coffee.
So she behaved.
By 7:10 AM, both sisters were dressed and ready. Elena grabbed her backpack, checked for her notes, laptop, and presentation flash drive, then ushered Maya to the car.
The morning air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of dew and distant traffic. Birds chirped loudly like they had no regard for anyone still trying to sleep. Elena unlocked the car, slid into the driver's seat, and waited for Maya to buckle in.
"Seatbelt?"
"Done!" Maya said proudly.
"Good girl. Let's go."
The drive to Maya's school was short but filled with their usual chatter, Maya asking random questions about the sky, clouds, why birds don't fall, and whether Elena would braid her hair in a different style tomorrow.
"You're very demanding for someone who still needs me to tie her shoelaces," Elena teased.
"Hey! I can tie them," Maya argued.
"Mm-hmm."
When they reached the school gate, Maya leaned over and hugged her.
"Wish me luck."
"Good luck." Elena squeezed her back. "Text me when you're done with your test, okay?"
"Okay! Bye!" Maya said before hopping off.
Once Maya disappeared into the building, Elena exhaled and drove toward her college. It was a fifteen-minute ride enough time for her mind to wander.
She thought about her presentation later, hoping her lecturer was in a good mood today. She thought about Amy, who had probably been awake since before dawn, buzzing with excitement like she always did. And she thought about her mom how tired she looked sometimes but still woke up with a smile.
When she finally pulled into the college parking lot, the campus was already waking up. Students hurried past with backpacks, earbuds in, iced coffees in hand. Conversations blended into a constant murmur.
Elena grabbed her bag, locked her car, and walked toward the main building.
She didn't make it far before she heard a familiar voice shout her name.
"Elenaa! Finally, you're here!" Amy ran toward her like a gust of wind.
Amy, with her bright red braids, oversized denim jacket, and a grin that could light up a city, practically tackled her into a hug.
"You look too awake for this hour," Elena groaned playfully.
"I had coffee. And I mean a lot of coffee," Amy said, eyes wide.
"That explains everything."
Amy hooked her arm through Elena's. "Come on, walk me to class before my energy level drops and I become a normal human."
"That would be tragic," Elena replied dryly.
They walked together, weaving through clusters of students. Amy talked endlessly about a new show she started, a guy from her class who was apparently obsessed with her, and a random dream she had where she was a superhero with the power to turn bad people into goats.
"You have issues," Elena laughed.
"You love my issues."
Elena couldn't deny it. Amy was her contrast outgoing where she was quiet, chaotic where she was organized. But Amy was also loyal, warm-hearted, and fiercely protective.
"So," Amy nudged. "Ready for your presentation later?"
"I hope so."
"You'll be great. You always are."
Elena smiled, touched. "Thanks."
They reached the hallway where her first class was held. Students were still filing in, settling into seats, flipping open notebooks.
"Okay," Amy said dramatically. "This is where we part ways. Don't fail me today, Elena. I'll see you after class."
"You're so dramatic."
"It's a talent."
Elena shook her head as Amy skipped away.
She took a deep breath, walked into her lecture hall, and slipped into her usual seat third row, left side. The room buzzed with low chatter, the professor still absent.
Elena opened her notebook, pulled out her laptop, and settled in.
It was just another day.
But something in the air felt different, like the beginning of something bigger.