Elena's day at work
1936 Words
The alarm rang.
Beep.
A hand shot out from beneath the blanket.
Silence.
Elena opened one eye.
"...Already?"
She turned her head toward the digital clock.
6:00 a.m.
"Who invented mornings?"
No answer.
"Rude."
She sighed, pushed the blanket aside, and sat up.
For exactly two seconds.
Then she looked longingly at her pillow.
"You look very comfortable."
The pillow, unsurprisingly, remained silent.
"I have court documents."
Still nothing.
"I have a lecture."
Nothing.
"I have... entirely too much to do today."
That was enough.
With the determination of someone reporting for battle, Elena climbed out of bed and stretched.
Another day.
Another schedule.
Another mountain of work waiting for her.
At least work made sense.
Unlike a certain internationally renowned artist who had somehow managed to occupy a corner of her thoughts after only two meetings.
"If you need years..."
She immediately pointed a finger at herself.
"No."
Not today.
She had successfully survived law school.
The bar examination.
Countless courtrooms.
She refused to lose a battle against her own imagination.
Twenty minutes later, dressed in charcoal running leggings, a navy athletic jacket, and white trainers, Elena stepped outside.
The cool Seattle air greeted her instantly.
"Much better."
She started jogging.
Running had become part of her life years ago.
Some people dealt with stress by talking.
Others meditated.
Elena ran.
It gave her something simple.
One foot.
Then the other.
No complicated emotions.
No impossible decisions.
Just movement.
Halfway through her usual route, she passed an elderly man walking his golden retriever.
The dog wagged its tail enthusiastically at her.
"Morning."
The dog barked once.
"You're much friendlier than most people before seven."
The old man laughed.
"I'll let him know you said that."
"Please do."
She continued running, smiling to herself.
Maybe today wouldn't be so bad after all.
Her phone suddenly buzzed inside the pocket of her jacket.
Elena frowned.
"Who's texting me before seven in the morning?"
She slowed to a walk, pulled out her phone and glanced at the screen.
Dad.
She closed her eyes for a second.
"...I already know what this is."
She tapped the message open.
Good morning, sweetheart.
So... what do you think about Adrian now?
Elena looked up at the sky with a long, defeated sigh.
"As expected."
She laughed quietly to herself.
"Good morning to you too, Dad."
Not How are you?
Not Did you sleep well?
Straight to Adrian.
She shook her head, already typing a reply.
Good morning, Dad. I hope you slept well. Don't forget to take your medicine, eat breakfast, and please don't stay cooped up in your room all day.
She read it over once.
Satisfied, she pressed send.
A few seconds later...
Her phone buzzed again.
That's not an answer.
Elena stared at the screen.
"...Persistent old man."
Another message appeared almost immediately.
I'll keep asking until you answer me.
She smiled despite herself.
Then, without replying, she slipped the phone back into her pocket.
"Nice try, Dad."
He could wait.
Just like Adrian would have to.
The morning traffic through downtown Seattle was as busy as ever.
Cars crawled through intersections while pedestrians hurried across crosswalks, coffee cups in hand, already preparing for another working day.
Elena rested one hand on the steering wheel, the other lightly tapping against it as she waited for the traffic light to change.
Red.
Yellow.
Green.
Her car moved forward with the rest of the traffic.
By the time she pulled into the university parking lot, the campus was already alive.
Students crossed the walkways in every direction, laughing, debating assignments, or rushing toward lectures they were probably already late for.
Elena stepped out of her car, adjusted the strap of her handbag, and closed the door behind her.
The crisp morning air greeted her immediately.
She had barely taken a few steps before someone called out.
"Good morning, Professor Monroe!"
She turned to see a group of second-year law students waving enthusiastically.
A smile found its way onto her face.
"Good morning."
One of them hurried over.
"Professor, are we still having class at ten?"
Elena raised an eyebrow.
"Were you hoping I'd cancel?"
The student laughed nervously.
"...Maybe a little."
"I'm touched by your honesty."
His friends burst into laughter.
"Don't worry," Elena continued. "The lecture is still on."
A chorus of exaggerated groans followed.
"I heard that," she called over her shoulder.
"We wanted you to!"
Still laughing, the students headed toward another building.
Elena shook her head, smiling to herself as she continued across campus.
Another lecturer passed her.
"Morning, Elena."
"Morning."
"Ready for another day?"
"Ask me again after my second lecture."
"I'll assume that's a no."
She chuckled softly.
Moments later, she reached the law faculty building.
The familiar receptionist looked up from her desk.
"Good morning, Professor Monroe."
"Morning, Lisa."
"The coffee machine survived the weekend."
Elena let out a relieved sigh.
"Now that's the best news I've heard all morning."
Lisa laughed.
"I thought you'd appreciate that."
Elena stepped into the elevator.
As the doors slid shut, the cheerful chatter outside faded, replaced by the quiet hum of the lift.
The doors opened onto the faculty floor a few moments later.
She walked down the hallway lined with office doors, unlocked hers, and stepped inside.
The room was exactly as she had left it yesterday.
Neat.
Organized.
And waiting for another impossibly busy day.
She had just placed her handbag on the desk when there was a knock on the open door.
Without looking up, she smiled.
"Come in, Darnia. I know it's you."
The door opened.
"...Am I really that predictable?"
"You always arrive before the coffee gets cold."
Darnia glanced at the untouched mug on Elena's desk and smiled.
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"And you're carrying my schedule."
Darnia held up her tablet.
"You make it sound like a weapon."
Elena sighed dramatically.
"Sometimes, it is."
Darnia walked over and placed her tablet on Elena's desk.
"All right," she said. "Ready to hear how much free time you don't have today?"
Elena leaned back in her chair.
"Go ahead. Crush my hopes."
Darnia cleared her throat with exaggerated professionalism.
"Ten o'clock, first-year Criminal Law."
Elena nodded.
"One-thirty, Constitutional Law."
"Expected."
"You have a consultation with the Reed case investigators at three."
Elena's expression became more serious.
"I'll be there."
"And..." Darnia glanced down at the next item.
"The Hendersons' daughter called again."
Elena looked up.
"Emily?"
"Yes. She said she needs advice about applying to law school and wanted to know if you had thirty minutes."
Elena smiled.
"Poor girl. She's probably more nervous than she needs to be."
"I told her I'd ask first."
"Give her twelve o'clock."
"I thought you'd say that."
Darnia made a note before continuing.
"Oh, and one more thing."
Elena narrowed her eyes.
"I don't like that tone."
"You've been invited to Serena's housewarming party tonight."
Elena sighed.
"I was hoping everyone had forgotten."
"They haven't."
"I could pretend to be sick."
"You used that excuse three months ago."
"I'll say I've relapsed."
Darnia folded her arms.
"Professor Monroe."
"Fine."
"I'll go."
"You promised Serena last month."
"I know."
Before Darnia could say another word, the office door swung open without so much as a knock.
A man in his mid-thirties walked in carrying a mug of coffee as though he owned the place.
"Good," he announced. "You're both here."
Elena didn't even look up.
"Daniel."
"Elena."
"You know," she said calmly, "most people knock."
"I did."
"No, you didn't."
"I knocked... emotionally."
Darnia snorted, quickly covering her mouth.
Elena slowly looked up.
"What does that even mean?"
"It means I thought about knocking."
"That doesn't count."
"It should."
"It really shouldn't."
Daniel took a sip of his coffee.
"I see you're in one of those moods."
"I'm in my usual mood."
"Which explains why your students look like they're preparing for trial every time they leave your lectures."
"My students leave educated."
"They leave traumatised."
"They survive."
"Barely."
Darnia looked between the two of them, shaking her head.
"You two argue like you've known each other your whole lives."
Daniel grinned.
"We've shared an office corridor for seven years. At this point, annoying each other is practically tradition."
Elena gave him an innocent smile.
"I don't annoy you."
Daniel laughed.
"No, you absolutely do."
"And yet you keep coming back."
"I enjoy making poor decisions."
Elena reached for the nearest pen.
"I can help you make another one."
Daniel immediately raised both hands.
"Violence in the workplace? I'm reporting you."
"To who?"
"You."
Elena couldn't help laughing.
"For someone who teaches constitutional law, your logic is deeply concerning."
"And yet," Daniel replied with a smug grin, "you laughed."
"I did."
"I'll consider that today's greatest achievement."
The three of them shared a laugh, and for just a moment, the weight of murder investigations, impossible schedules, and her father's worries faded into the background.
Then Darnia glanced at her tablet again.
"All right, comedy hour is over."
Daniel groaned dramatically.
"I knew someone here had to be responsible."
"You've never once been the responsible one," Elena said.
"That's why they hired you."
He flashed his usual grin before heading for the door.
"I'll see you after your lecture, Professor Monroe."
"And try knocking next time."
"I'll think about it."
"You won't."
"No," Daniel admitted cheerfully. "I probably won't."
The door closed behind him, leaving Elena smiling despite herself. It was a small moment, but it reminded her why she loved coming to work. Even on the busiest days, there were people who made the long hours feel a little lighter.
The rest of the morning disappeared faster than Elena expected.
Her ten o'clock lecture was as lively as ever.
The moment she walked into the lecture hall, conversations died down.
"Good morning, everyone."
"Good morning, Professor Monroe."
She placed her notes on the podium before looking around the room.
"Let's see... who actually did the reading?"
Only a handful of hands went up.
Elena sighed dramatically.
"I appreciate the honesty."
A wave of laughter spread across the room.
For the next ninety minutes, she guided the class through constitutional law, turning complicated legal principles into conversations rather than lectures. Every now and then, she threw a question into the room without warning, forcing students to think instead of memorizing.
By the time class ended, nearly a dozen students surrounded her.
"Professor, can I ask something?"
"My turn first!"
"No, mine is quicker."
Elena laughed.
"One at a time."
Almost forty minutes later, she finally escaped the crowd.
Back in her office, Emily Henderson was already waiting.
The nervous young woman sat clutching a notebook against her chest.
"You wanted to talk about law school?"
Emily nodded immediately.
"I... I'm scared I won't be good enough."
Elena smiled reassuringly.
"Everyone thinks that at first."
They talked for nearly half an hour about applications, interviews, and the realities of studying law.
By the time Emily left, she looked far more confident than when she had arrived.
"Thank you, Professor."
"You'll do just fine."
The afternoon disappeared beneath paperwork, emails, and another mountain of documents from the Reed case.
Every answer she found only seemed to raise two more questions.
By the time Elena glanced at the clock again, the workday was almost over.
She leaned back in her chair and rubbed her temples.
One lecture.
One consultation.
Countless emails.
And enough paperwork to last another week.
She let out a tired laugh.
It had been an ordinary day.
At least...
Until she remembered Serena's housewarming party.
Her smile disappeared.
"...Right."
She had promised to go.
- Writer
