Jutro u Apatinu je počelo polako, tiše nego obično. Bila je subota, a subotom ljudi ustaju kasnije i grad diše sporije. Iako je bilo hladno, u vazduhu se osećao miris svežine koji obično dolazi posle laganog snega. Lina je otvorila prozor u svojoj maloj kući i pogledala napolje. Videla je tanak sloj snega na krovu komšijine garaže, a nekoliko ptica je sedelo na žici iznad ulice. Sve je izgledalo mirno, kao da dan želi da joj kaže da ne žuri.
Odlučila je da napravi doručak, ali ne odmah. Najpre je uključila malu lampu na stolu i sela u svoju fotelju. Voli da provede prvih nekoliko minuta dana u tišini. Skuvala je čaj i otvorila prozor taman toliko da malo hladnog vazduha uđe u sobu. Dok je sedela, slušala je zvuk šolje koja se lagano grebala o sto svaki put kada bi je pomerila. Ta rutina joj je bila važna: mali trenuci koji daju ritam danu.
Posle doručka odlučila je da izađe u dugu šetnju. Obukla je svoje najtoplije čizme, dugu jaknu, šal i kapu. Uzela je jednu malu torbu u koju je spakovala flašu vode, balzam za usne, rukavice i svesku u koju često zapisuje dnevne misli. Kada je izašla napolje, hladan vazduh joj je odmah dotakao lice. To je bio znak da zima tek počinje, ali ne ona teška i ledena, već ona mirna, meka i prijatna.
Krenula je prema reci. Ulice su bile gotovo prazne. Samo se na prozorima nekoliko kuća video žuti odsjaj svetla. Na jednoj klupi sedela je starija žena sa torbom punom hleba i peciva. Lina joj je prišla i pozdravila je.
„Dobro jutro!“
„Dobro jutro, dušo“, odgovorila je žena. „Hladno je danas, ali lepo za šetnju.“
„Jeste, baš prija“, rekla je Lina i nastavila dalje.
Kada je stigla do šetališta pored Dunava, zastala je na trenutak. Voda je bila tamnoplava i mirna, a povremeni talas je lagano udarao o obalu. Na horizontu se videlo slabo sunce koje se borilo da probije oblake. Lina je prošetala nekoliko minuta, a onda sela na jednu klupu da provetri misli. Nije razmišljala ni o čemu važnom, samo je posmatrala ptice koje su se spuštale na površinu vode i opet dizale u vazduh.
Dunav je uvek imao sposobnost da je umiri. Možda zbog zvuka vode, možda zato što reka nikada ne stoji, već teče dalje, bez obzira na sve. Lina je volela da o tome razmišlja. Ako reka može da ide napred, onda može i čovek.
Ustala je i nastavila šetnju. Put ju je odveo kroz mali park pun drveća bez lišća. Grančice su bile tanke i ponekad su se lagano tresle pod teretom snega. Na jednoj od klupa sedela su dva dečaka, igrajući se malim autićem. Kada su videli Linu, veselo su joj mahali.
„Ćao!“ viknula su.
„Ćao!“ odgovorila je.
U istom trenutku iz obližnje zgrade izašao je čovek koji je nosio džak brašna. Dečacima je rekao da polako trče i da paze da ne padnu. Oni su samo kratko klimnuli i nastavili svoju igru.
Lina je izašla iz parka i krenula prema pijaci. Subotom je pijaca obično puna ljudi, ali pošto je sneg tek počeo, prodavaca nije bilo mnogo. Nekoliko njih je stajalo pod malim šatorima, prodajući jabuke, krompir, med, čajeve, domaći sir i tople krofne. Jedan stariji čovek je prodavao med i svakoj mušteriji je pričao kako su njegove pčele najsrećnije u celom kraju.
„Probajte, gospođice, med je svež kao jutarnji vazduh“, rekao je Lini uz osmeh.
Lina je probala i kupila malu teglu. Nessumnjivo je bio ukusan, blag i savršen za zimske dane.
Šetajući dalje, primetila je da se vreme malo pogoršalo. Vetar je postao jači i pahulje su padale brže. Zato je skrenula prema malom kafiću na uglu pijace. Kafić se zvao „Plavi Dunav“ i bio je poznat po toplom čaju i mirisnim kolačima. Unutra je bilo toplo, a svetlo blago. Na radiju je tiho svirala neka stara pesma.
Lina je sela za sto blizu prozora i naručila čaj sa limunom. Dok je čekala, posmatrala je ljude koji su prolazili napolju. Svako je žurio svojim putem, zakopčan do brade, sa kapama duboko preko ušiju. U jednom trenutku u kafić je ušla Maja, njena komšinica, potpuno iznenađena što je vidi.
„Lina! I ti si ovde?“
„Da, bežim malo od vetra.“
Maja je sela za njen sto. Pričale su o jednostavnim stvarima—o vremenu, o stanju na pijaci, o tome kako je sneg legao baš tiho i nežno ove godine. Posle petnaestak minuta, Maja je morala da ide jer je žurila kući sa kesama punim povrća. Lina je ostala još malo da završi čaj, a onda je odlučila da krene dalje.
Kada je izašla iz kafića, sneg je već bio jači. Krovovi su bili beli, kola na ulici su usporeno prolazila, a ljudi su hodali oprezno. Lina je krenula prema drugom delu grada, gde se nalazila mala knjižara koju je volela.
Putem je primećivala miris dima iz dimnjaka, zvuk koraka po snegu i tiho šuštanje vetra koji je nosio pahulje.
Knjižara je bila mala, ali puna knjiga. Na vratima je zvonilo malo zvonce kada je ušla. Prodavac, mladić sa naočarima, ljubazno ju je pozdravio. Lina je obožavala da uđe ovde makar samo da pogleda korice knjiga i oseti miris papira.
Morning in Apatin began slowly, quieter than usual. It was Saturday, and on Saturdays people rise later and the town breathes more slowly. Although it was cold, there was a scent of freshness in the air that usually comes after light snow. Lina opened the window in her small house and looked outside. She saw a thin layer of snow on the roof of her neighbour's garage, and several birds were perched on the wire above the street. Everything looked peaceful, as if the day wanted to tell her not to rush.
She decided to make breakfast, but not immediately. First, she switched on the small lamp on the table and sat in her armchair. She likes to spend the first few minutes of the day in silence. She made tea and opened the window just enough for a bit of cold air to enter the room. As she sat, she listened to the sound of the cup gently scraping against the table each time she moved it. This routine was important to her: small moments that give rhythm to the day.
After breakfast, she decided to go out for a long walk. She put on her warmest boots, a long coat, scarf, and hat. She took a small bag in which she packed a bottle of water, lip balm, gloves, and a notebook in which she often writes down daily thoughts. When she stepped outside, the cold air immediately touched her face. It was a sign that winter was just beginning, but not the harsh and icy kind, rather the calm, soft, and pleasant kind.
She set off towards the river. The streets were almost empty. Only on the windows of a few houses could the yellow glow of light be seen. On one bench sat an elderly woman with a bag full of bread and pastries. Lina approached and greeted her.
"Good morning!"
"Good morning, dear," the woman replied. "It's cold today, but lovely for a walk."
"It is, it's really pleasant," said Lina and continued on.
When she reached the promenade beside the Danube, she stopped for a moment. The water was dark blue and calm, and the occasional wave gently lapped against the shore. On the horizon, a faint sun could be seen struggling to break through the clouds. Lina walked for a few minutes, then sat on a bench to clear her thoughts. She wasn't thinking about anything important, just watching the birds descending onto the water's surface and rising into the air again.
The Danube always had the ability to calm her. Perhaps because of the sound of the water, perhaps because the river never stands still but flows onwards, regardless of everything. Lina liked to think about that. If the river can move forwards, then so can a person.
She got up and continued her walk. The path led her through a small park full of leafless trees. The branches were thin and sometimes trembled slightly under the weight of the snow. On one of the benches sat two boys, playing with a small toy car. When they saw Lina, they waved cheerfully.
"Hi!" they shouted.
"Hi!" she replied.
At that moment, a man carrying a sack of flour emerged from a nearby building. He told the boys to run slowly and to be careful not to fall. They just nodded briefly and continued their game.
Lina left the park and headed towards the market. On Saturdays, the market is usually full of people, but since the snow had only just begun, there weren't many vendors. A few of them stood under small tents, selling apples, potatoes, honey, teas, homemade cheese, and warm doughnuts. One elderly man was selling honey and told every customer how his bees were the happiest in the whole region.
"Try it, miss, the honey is as fresh as the morning air," he said to Lina with a smile.
Lina tasted it and bought a small jar. Undoubtedly it was delicious, mild and perfect for winter days.
Walking on, she noticed that the weather had worsened slightly. The wind had grown stronger and the snowflakes were falling faster. So she turned towards a small café on the corner of the market. The café was called "Blue Danube" and was known for its hot tea and fragrant cakes. Inside it was warm, and the light gentle. On the radio, some old song was playing quietly.
Lina sat at a table near the window and ordered tea with lemon. Whilst she waited, she watched the people passing by outside. Everyone was hurrying on their way, buttoned up to the chin, with hats pulled deep over their ears. At one point, Maja, her neighbour, entered the café, completely surprised to see her.
"Lina! You're here too?"
"Yes, escaping from the wind for a bit."
Maja sat at her table. They talked about simple things—about the weather, about the state of the market, about how the snow had settled so quietly and gently this year. After about fifteen minutes, Maja had to leave because she was rushing home with bags full of vegetables. Lina stayed a bit longer to finish her tea, then decided to move on.
When she left the café, the snow was already heavier. The roofs were white, cars on the street were passing slowly, and people were walking carefully. Lina headed towards another part of town, where a small bookshop she loved was located.
Along the way she noticed the smell of smoke from chimneys, the sound of footsteps on snow, and the quiet rustling of wind carrying snowflakes.
The bookshop was small, but full of books. A little bell rang at the door when she entered. The shop assistant, a young man with glasses, greeted her kindly. Lina adored coming here even if only to look at book covers and smell the scent of paper.