The alarm went off at seven thirty.
Aurora opened her eyes almost immediately.
She stayed still for a few seconds, still under the covers.
Then she smiled.
She was directing a series.
Her smile widened slightly.
She sat up and turned off the alarm before it could go off a second time.
Across the city, Leon had already been running for almost half an hour.
His pace was steady.
Earphones in, eyes straight ahead.
He crossed the street when the light turned green and kept going without slowing down.
Meanwhile, Aurora had opened her wardrobe.
She moved one shirt aside.
Then another.
She picked up a black skirt, looked at it for a few seconds, then put it back.
In the end, she chose a pair of black trousers and a light-colored shirt.
She laid them on the bed.
Then looked at herself in the mirror.
She was still smiling.
"If you keep this up, your face is going to get stuck like that."
Aurora turned around.
Mia was leaning against the doorframe, still in her pajamas.
"I'm about to direct a series."
"I know."
"A real series."
"I know that too."
Aurora turned back to the mirror.
"I just wanted to make sure that was clear."
Mia shook her head and walked away.
"You're unbearable."
Aurora laughed.
Leon only slowed down when he reached the building.
He stopped outside the entrance, checked the time on his phone, and went inside.
A few minutes later, water from the shower ran over his shoulders.
Aurora stood in front of the bathroom mirror.
She fixed her hair, checked her face one last time, and walked out.
Leon opened his wardrobe.
He took out a simple pair of black trousers and a soft gray long-sleeved shirt.
He got dressed without giving it much thought.
Aurora walked into the kitchen.
Mia had already made something to eat.
"Coffee?" she asked.
Aurora shook her head.
"I'll get one at the office."
"You really are impatient."
"No."
Mia looked at her.
Aurora picked up a piece of toast.
"Maybe."
Leon drank a glass of water while standing at the kitchen counter.
He grabbed his phone.
His keys.
And left.
When Aurora and Mia arrived at the office, Aurora still had the same energy she'd woken up with.
She walked down the hallway with her bag over her shoulder and greeted two colleagues.
They went into their office.
Aurora set her bag down beside her desk and turned on her computer.
Mia did the same.
"How long?"
Aurora checked the time.
"Forty minutes."
Mia looked up.
Aurora picked up the mug from her desk.
"Coffee."
"That I can agree with."
They left together.
The coffee station was just down the hall, open to the corridor.
A counter.
A machine for hot water and coffee.
Cups, mugs, and a few packets arranged in small containers.
Someone was already there.
He had his back to them, standing in front of the counter.
Aurora walked in first.
"Good morning."
She said it with the same cheerfulness she'd been carrying around since she woke up.
The man had just finished making his coffee.
He picked up his mug.
Took a sip.
Then turned around.
Aurora stopped smiling.
Leon.
Black trousers. A gray long-sleeved shirt. Nothing formal. Nothing deliberate.
The mug still in his hand.
Leon met her eyes.
"Good morning."
He walked past her.
Then left.
Aurora stood there, still holding her empty mug.
Mia looked toward the hallway.
Then at her.
Aurora walked over to the coffee machine.
"Don't say anything."
"I didn't say anything."
Aurora picked up a packet.
"You were about to."
Mia held back a smile.
Aurora emptied the packet into her mug.
Only then, as she added the water, did the thought make its way back into her mind.
Right.
She had to work with him.