The buzzing of the alarm jolted Selene awake. She groaned, slamming her hand onto the snooze button before rolling onto her side. Another day, another routine. She glanced at the time—6:45 AM—and sighed. "Alright, Selene. Get up. Bills don't pay themselves," she muttered, throwing the blanket off.
The small apartment she called home was modest, clean but cluttered. The scent of yesterday's coffee lingered in the air as she shuffled to the kitchen. Her cat, Luna, meowed insistently, weaving around her legs. "Okay, okay, breakfast first. I get it." She poured cat food into a bowl and set it on the floor. "You've got it easy, you know that?" The apartment felt unusually quiet this morning. Normally, she'd hear the faint hum of her neighbor's TV or the sound of cars on the street below, but today there was... nothing.
At the diner, the usual crowd filled the space. Selene slipped on her apron, tying it behind her waist as her coworker, Meg, handed her a notepad. "You're late," Meg teased, balancing a tray of coffee cups.
"Blame my bed. It held me hostage." Selene grinned and grabbed a pot of coffee.
She moved between tables, refilling cups and exchanging pleasantries. "Morning, Mr. Harris," she greeted an older man at the corner booth. "The usual?"
"You know me too well, kid." He chuckled. "Two eggs, bacon, toast. And don't forget the black coffee."
"Got it." Selene scribbled on her notepad and turned toward the counter, catching snippets of a conversation at the booth behind her. "Did you hear about that promotion at the mall? Half off everything," a man said, his tone excited. "Yeah, my wife already dragged me there this morning," another replied with a laugh.
Selene smiled faintly at their chatter, her focus shifting back to her tasks. The hours passed in the usual rhythm the clatter of dishes, the hum of conversation, and the faint aroma of grease and coffee filling the diner. It wasn't glamorous, but it was familiar. "Selene," Meg called, her tone carrying a hint of urgency. "Can you cover the register for a bit? The morning rush is crazy today."
"Sure thing."
Selene moved behind the counter, her hands instinctively reaching for the till. She worked efficiently, exchanging smiles and small talk with customers as they paid their bills. By midday, the rush had subsided, leaving Selene with a rare moment to catch her breath.
She leaned against the counter, watching as Mr. Harris folded his newspaper and slid out of his booth. "Busy morning, huh?" he said with a chuckle, adjusting his hat. "Always is," Selene replied with a grin. "But at least it makes the time fly." As the afternoon wore on, the diner grew quieter. Selene found herself tidying up a table near the window when Meg walked over, balancing two plates.
"Don't forget you're covering the evening shift tomorrow," Meg reminded her.
"I know, I know. It's not like I have anything better to do," Selene said, stacking plates onto her tray.
"You should really take a night off sometime," Meg said with a smirk. "Maybe go out, have some fun for once?"
"Fun costs money, and money comes from working,"
Selene shot back playfully.
Later, as the evening crowd trickled in, Selene found herself serving a group of regulars at the counter. The banter between them was lighthearted, filled with laughter and good-natured teasing. It was moments like these that reminded her why she enjoyed the diner, even if the pay barely covered her bills.
By the time her shift ended, the sky outside was painted in hues of orange and pink. Selene stepped out of the diner, stretching her arms over her head. The cool breeze felt refreshing against her skin. "See you tomorrow, Meg," she called over her shoulder.
"Try to get some sleep!" Meg shouted back with a laugh. Selene made her way home, her footsteps echoing on the quiet streets. The day had been long, but it was the kind of day she'd grown accustomed to ordinary, predictable, and safe.
When she arrived at her apartment, Luna greeted her with a soft meow. Selene picked up the cat, pressing her face into its soft fur. "You're the best part of my day, you know that?" she murmured, setting Luna down on the couch. She flipped on the TV, letting the background noise fill the room as she prepared a quick dinner.
The faint sounds of a sitcom blended with the clinking of dishes, creating a comforting routine. As she settled onto the couch with her plate, Selene couldn't shake the feeling that life had become... stagnant. She stared at the screen, not really watching, her mind drifting. "This is it, huh?" she muttered to herself. "Work, eat, sleep, repeat." Luna jumped onto her lap, purring softly. Selene stroked the cat absentmindedly, her thoughts swirling. Her life was practically almost the same everyday... Although it was uneventful the peace it brought alone was delightful..