The alarm clock rang.
Its sound broke the silence of the room that had lasted all night.
Lily opened her eyes slowly.
She needed a few seconds to realize where she was.
The morning light was creeping from between the curtains, drawing delicate lines on the wall opposite her bed.
She raised her hand and turned off the alarm before it rang again.
She remained lying down for a few moments.
Her hair was scattered over the pillow after a long night, and a few strands fell over her face.
Her blue eyes had not yet regained their alertness, and sleepiness was still visible in them.
She blinked several times while looking at the ceiling.
Her features were calm.
However, the effects of staying up late were clear around her eyes.
She had not slept many hours.
Despite that, she felt her sleep was deeper than previous nights.
She took a calm breath and sat on the edge of the bed.
She looked automatically at the phone placed beside her pillow.
She did not wait until she washed her face.
Nor did she wait until she got up.
She grabbed the phone and unlocked the screen quickly.
The first app she opened was the chat with Adam.
Her breath paused for a brief moment as she waited to see something new.
But the screen remained as it was.
The last message was still in its place.
And there was no new message.
Nor any sign indicating that Adam had turned on his phone.
His phone remained switched off.
Lily stared at the screen for seconds.
Then she locked it quietly.
She did not feel great disappointment this time.
She had prepared herself for this possibility since last night.
Today she would not rely on the phone.
Today she would see him at the university.
Today she would talk to him herself.
She placed the phone on the bed beside her.
And took a deep breath.
Then she finally stood up, and headed toward the window.
She pushed the curtains aside slightly.
The morning light entered the room, illuminating the entire place.
She stared at the city that was beginning to wake up.
Then she said in a low voice, as if reminding herself of what she had promised before sleeping: “Today…
I will apologize to him.” Lily moved away from the window after whispering to herself that she would apologize to Adam.
A new morning lay before her, but it was not an ordinary morning for her.
She walked with quiet steps to the bathroom.
As soon as she opened the door, the white light of the mirrors greeted her, so she raised her gaze toward her reflection.
She contemplated herself for seconds.
The traces of staying up late were still slight under her eyes, but she was not as tired as she was last night.
She washed her face with cold water.
Water droplets slid over her skin, and she closed her eyes for a moment as she felt the coldness gradually waking her up.
She repeated that once more.
Then she took the white towel hanging beside the sink and dried her face gently.
She raised her long hair and tied it temporarily so she could brush her teeth.
She brought out the toothbrush, placed a little toothpaste on it, and then stood in front of the mirror in silence.
She was thinking about the university.
And about Adam.
And about the way she would start the conversation with him.
Would she apologize directly?
Or would she wait until lectures ended?
She did not know.
Yet she knew one thing.
She would not postpone the apology again.
After she finished, she opened the small bathroom cabinet.
She applied a little moisturizing cream to her face.
Her movements were calm, customary, as if performing a ritual she had known for years.
Then she untied her hair.
She ran her fingers through its strands until it hung down over her shoulders once more.
She took the brush and began combing it slowly.
She liked to leave it natural.
She did not prefer complex hairstyles on university days.
She finished, then left the bathroom, heading to the dressing room.
She opened the large closet.
The clothes were arranged with care: shirts hanging according to color, coats on a separate side, shoes lined up at the bottom.
She stood for moments looking at them, then began searching with her eyes.
She did not want to wear something overly formal.
Nor anything striking.
She wanted to look like herself.
She chose a simple white shirt with long sleeves.
And over it, a light blue sweater.
Then she chose dark blue jeans that suited it.
She placed the clothes on the bed.
And sat for a moment contemplating them.
Then she began dressing quietly.
She stood in front of the large mirror once more.
She adjusted the shirt collar.
And smoothed the edges of the sweater.
Then she looked at herself.
She was not trying to look perfect.
She only wanted to feel comfortable.
She opened a small drawer beside the mirror.
She brought out her silver wristwatch.
She put it around her wrist.
Then she wore a delicate necklace she was accustomed to wearing every day.
It was very simple.
Yet it had become part of her daily appearance.
She applied a little perfume on her wrists and behind her ears.
Its scent was calm, barely noticeable.
Then she picked up a black hair tie and placed it around her wrist, in case she needed to tie her hair later.
She sat before the vanity table.
She was not one of those people who spend a long time applying cosmetics.
She settled for very light touches.
A little lip balm.
And a simple touch to make her features look fresher.
Then she closed the case.
She stood for the last time before the mirror.
She turned slightly right and left.
Made sure everything was in its place.
Then she smiled a faint smile.
Not because she was entirely satisfied.
Rather because she felt she was ready to start this day.
She headed to her desk.
She took her leather university bag.
She opened it and began arranging its contents one by one.
Her tablet.
The notebook.
A set of pens in different colors.
The lecture book.
Her wireless earphones.
Her wallet.
The house keys.
A small water bottle.
And the phone charger.
She closed the bag after making sure that everything was in its place.
Then she held her phone once more.
She unlocked the screen quickly.
Hope was still present.
Perhaps during the past minutes, Adam had turned on his phone.
Perhaps a new message had appeared.
However…
Nothing had changed.
The chat remained as she had left it.
And Adam’s phone was still switched off.
She sighed calmly.
Then locked the screen without writing any message.
She placed the phone inside the bag.
And said to herself in a low voice: “It’s fine…
I will see him in a little while.” She carried her bag on her shoulder.
And took one last look at her room before leaving it.
This morning was different from every morning.
Not because of the university.
Nor because of the lectures.
Rather because inside her, there was only one appointment she was waiting for.
To meet Adam.
And to say to him the word she had been postponing since yesterday: “I am sorry.”