A New Beginning
1161 Words
The apartment felt different the next morning.
It was still unfamiliar, but it no longer looked like a place waiting for someone to move in. Little by little, it was beginning to feel lived in.
Maya stood in the middle of the bedroom with both hands resting on her waist as she looked around.
One suitcase was still lying open on the floor.
“I should probably finish this,” she murmured.
Without wasting another minute, she got to work.
She folded the last of her clothes and arranged them neatly inside the wardrobe. Her books found a place on the small study table by the window, while her toiletries were carefully organized in the bathroom cabinet.
The few decorations she had brought were simple, but they made the apartment feel less empty. A small flower vase sat neatly on the table, while her bedside lamp occupied the corner beside her bed.
When she was done, Maya stepped back to admire her work.
A smile slowly appeared on her face.
“It looks much better.”
Satisfied, she picked up the empty boxes and tucked them away where they wouldn’t be in the way.
The apartment wasn’t big.
It wasn’t luxurious either.
But it was clean.
Quiet.
Comfortable.
For now, that was enough.
She stretched her arms before walking toward the kitchen to prepare something light to eat.
After breakfast, she sat at the study table and reached into her backpack.
She brought out a small diary with a plain brown cover.
Opening it to a fresh page, she picked up a pen and paused for a few seconds.
Everything about her life had changed.
A new environment.
New people.
New responsibilities.
If there was one thing Maya knew about herself, it was that she functioned better with structure.
So she began writing.
At the top of the page, she wrote neatly,
My Routine
She thought for a moment before writing underneath it.
• Pray every morning before leaving the apartment.
• Attend all my lectures.
• Study after classes.
• Eat well.
• Drink enough water.
• Sleep early whenever possible.
• Stay focused.
• Read my Bible every day.
• Avoid procrastination.
She read through everything she had written and nodded quietly.
It wasn’t a difficult routine.
It was simply a reminder to remain disciplined.
Closing the diary, she placed it on the table.
“This should help,” she whispered.
The days that followed were busy.
As a new student, there was always something to do.
Some mornings began earlier than she expected.
Other days seemed longer than they actually were.
She spent most of her time moving from one place to another, trying to understand how everything worked.
There were registrations to complete.
Documents to submit.
Directions to learn.
Faces she had never seen before.
Every day introduced something new.
Sometimes she found herself standing among other students, quietly observing before asking questions whenever she didn’t understand something.
Other times, she simply followed the crowd, hoping they were headed to the right place.
It was all part of settling into a new life.
Each evening, Maya returned to her apartment feeling tired but satisfied.
She would freshen up, prepare something simple to eat, and sit quietly for a while before opening her diary again.
She would read through the routine she had written on her first day and reflect on how her day had gone.
Had she attended all her lectures?
Yes.
Had she prayed?
Yes.
Had she eaten properly?
Most times.
Had she studied?
She was trying.
The routine slowly became part of her daily life.
It kept her grounded.
Days turned into weeks, and with each passing day, the unfamiliar environment became a little less unfamiliar.
The roads no longer seemed confusing.
Walking around became easier.
She gradually adjusted to the rhythm of school life, taking each day as it came.
Later that evening, after spending most of the day putting her apartment in order, Maya realized there was very little left to eat.
She reached for her phone, checked the time, and decided it was still early enough to step outside.
Picking up her small handbag, she locked the apartment door behind her and made her way down the stairs.
The evening breeze greeted her as soon as she stepped outside.
The air was cooler now, carrying the comforting sounds of people winding down after a long day. A few cars drove past at intervals, while conversations floated from nearby balconies. Somewhere in the distance, a child laughed, followed by the cheerful ringing of a bicycle bell.
Maya walked slowly,She wasn’t in a hurry.
Every few steps, her eyes wandered from one shop to another, quietly observing the neighbourhood that would become part of her daily life.
Just a short walk from her apartment, she spotted a small fruit shop.
Neatly arranged baskets of oranges, bananas, apples, grapes and watermelons sat outside, their bright colours making the little shop impossible to ignore.
She smiled to herself before walking in.
“Good evening,” she greeted politely.
The shopkeeper looked up with a warm smile.
“Good evening. What would you like?”
Maya glanced over the fruits for a moment before picking out a few bananas, some apples, a bunch of grapes and a handful of oranges.
The shopkeeper carefully placed them into a paper bag and handed it over after Maya paid.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Have a lovely evening.”
“You too.”
With the bag resting comfortably in her hands, Maya began the short walk back to her apartment.
The sky had already begun to change colours, painted with soft shades of orange and pink as the sun slowly disappeared beyond the buildings.
She found herself smiling without any particular reason.
Perhaps it was the quietness of the evening.
Perhaps it was the simple satisfaction of beginning to settle into her new life.
By the time she returned home, the apartment welcomed her with the same peaceful silence she was gradually becoming accustomed to.
She placed the fruits neatly inside the kitchen before washing a few grapes and an apple.
Carrying the small plate into the sitting room, she settled comfortably on the couch and reached for her phone.
After scrolling through her playlist for a few seconds, she selected one of her favourite songs.
Soft melodies soon filled the apartment.
Maya leaned back, taking a bite of the apple as the music played gently in the background.
There was something comforting about moments like this.
No rushing.
No pressure.
Just good music, fresh fruit, and a quiet evening to herself.
For the first time since arriving, the apartment didn’t feel unfamiliar.
It simply felt peaceful.
She closed her eyes for a brief moment, allowing herself to enjoy the music until the song faded into the next.
Tomorrow would bring another day of lectures, new faces and new experiences.
But for now…
This quiet evening was enough.
- Writer
