Jelena živi u mirnom delu grada, u stanu koji se nalazi na drugom spratu jedne stare zgrade sa zelenim fasadama. Stan nije veliki, ali ima dovoljno prostora za nju: jedna spavaća soba, mala kuhinja, dnevna soba sa velikim prozorom koji gleda na ulicu, i kupatilo u kome uvek miriše na sapun od lavande. Svakog jutra ona se trudi da započne dan smireno, bez žurbe, iako često ima mnogo obaveza.
U šest i dvadeset zvoni njen alarm. Zvuk nije glasan, već blag i tih, jer ona ne voli naglo buđenje. Prvo otvori oči polako, zatim ispruži ruke iznad glave i duboko udahne. Oseća svež vazduh koji ulazi kroz mali otvoren prozor. Nakon nekoliko trenutaka sedi na ivici kreveta i spušta noge na mekan tepih. Uvek kaže sebi da je dobro što ima rutinu, jer joj rutina daje osećaj kontrole i mira.
Jelena ustaje i ide u kupatilo. Uključuje svetlo, pere zube pažljivo, zatim umiva lice hladnom vodom koja je odmah razbuđuje. Peškirom nežno briše lice, a zatim češlja kosu i pravi jednostavnu frizuru — obično rep ili punđu. Nakon toga stavlja malo kreme na lice jer je koža suva ujutru. Sve radi polako, bez žurbe.
Iz kupatila odlazi u kuhinju. Najpre uključuje ketler da zagreje vodu. Dok čeka, otvara frižider i gleda šta će doručkovati. Ponekad jede jogurt, ponekad ovsenu kašu, a ponekad napravi sendvič sa sirom i paradajzom. Tog dana odlučuje se za jogurt i hleb sa malo putera. Kada voda proključa, pravi sebi zeleni čaj. Sedi za sto pored prozora i gleda ulicu. Napolju ljudi polako prolaze, jedan čovek šeta psa, jedna žena nosi veliku torbu i izgleda kao da ide na posao, a autobus koji uvek prolazi u isto vreme se čuje u daljini.
Dok pije čaj, Jelena proverava svoj telefon. Gleda mejlove, kratke poruke i obaveštenja. Zatim otvara aplikaciju sa kalendarom i proverava svoj plan za taj dan. Ima sastanak u kancelariji u deset, zatim jedan važan poziv oko podneva, a popodne mora da pripremi nekoliko dokumenata. Sve to zapisuje u svoju malu papirnu svesku, jer joj je lakše da pamti kada sve napiše rukom.
Oko sedam i deset počinje da se sprema. Oblači tamne pantalone, svetlu majicu i jednostavnu jaknu. U torbu stavlja telefon, ključeve, novčanik, maramice i malu flašu vode. Gasi svetla, zaključava vrata i silazi niz stepenice. Na ulici se oseća svež jutarnji vazduh koji joj prija. Krene u pravcu autobuske stanice i primeti da je jutarnja gužva već počela.
Autobus stiže posle nekoliko minuta. Jelena ulazi, pronalazi slobodno mesto i seda. Dok putuje, gleda ljude oko sebe: jedan student čita knjigu, jedna starija žena drži ceger pun povrća, a jedan muškarac govori telefonom tiho, kao da ne želi da smeta drugima. Jelena stavlja slušalice i pušta laganu muziku. Gleda kroz prozor kako grad polako postaje sve glasniji i življi.
Kada stigne do kancelarije, ulazi u zgradu i pozdravlja kolege. Njena kancelarija je mala ali prijatna, sa policom punom fascikli i jednim velikim stolom na kome drži laptop, svesku i šolju koju koristi svakodnevno. Uključuje računar, otvara prve mejlove i počinje sa radom. Njen posao zahteva mnogo pisanja i organizacije dokumenata. Iako ponekad zna da bude zamorno, ona voli osećaj kada vidi da je nešto uredila i završila na vreme.
U deset sati ima sastanak sa kolegama. Svi sede oko velikog stola i razgovaraju o projektima. Jelena pažljivo sluša i zapisuje najvažnije detalje. Sastanak traje oko četrdeset minuta. Nakon toga vraća se za svoj sto i pravi sebi kafu u kancelarijskoj kuhinji. Dok pravi kafu, razgovara kratko sa kolegom Markom o vremenu i planovima za vikend. Marko kaže da planira šetnju po Fruškoj gori, a Jelena razmišlja da bi i ona volela negde da ode.
Oko podneva Jelena ima važan poziv. Priprema dokument koji treba da predstavi i duboko diše pre nego što poziv počne. Razgovor traje dvadesetak minuta, ali sve prođe bolje nego što je očekivala. Kada završi, oseća se lakše. Odlučuje da napravi kratku pauzu, pa izlazi ispred zgrade da malo prošeta. Vreme je prijatno, nebo je poluoblačno, a vetar slab. Posmatra ljude koji prolaze i oseća kako joj se misli smiruju.
U jedan sat dolazi vreme za ručak. Jelena jede obično jednostavnu hranu koju donese od kuće, ali tog dana ide sa koleginicom Milicom u malu pekaru preko puta kancelarije. Kupuje burek sa sirom i čašu jogurta. Sede na klupu ispred pekare i razgovaraju o svakodnevnim stvarima — o serijama koje gledaju, o cveću koje Milica pokušava da odgaji, o planovima za proleće. Taj mali razgovor joj uvek prija.
Nakon ručka vraća se u kancelariju i nastavlja sa radom. Popodne je tiše nego jutro. Ljudi manje pričaju, više kucaju na tastaturi. Jelena uređuje nekoliko dokumenata, proverava tabele i šalje mejlove. Oko tri sata oseća umor, pa ustaje, proteže leđa i popije čašu vode. Onda se vraća poslu sa novom energijom.
U četiri sata završava radni deo dana. Spušta poklopac laptopa, pakuje torbu i pozdravlja kolege. Na putu do autobusa svraća u malu prodavnicu. Kupuje mleko, pirinač, hleb i jabuke. Zatim ulazi u autobus i zauzima mesto blizu prozora. Put do kuće traje duže jer je popodnevna gužva. Gleda kroz prozor kako se svetla automobila reflektuju na mokrom asfaltu.
Kada stigne kući, skida cipele, ostavlja torbu na sto i otvara prozor. U kuhinji raspakuje namirnice, pere jabuku i grize je dok priprema večeru. Najčešće pravi nešto jednostavno: testeninu sa povrćem ili supu. Dok se hrana kuva, ponekad uključi muziku ili kratko pogleda telefon.
Posle večere pere sudove i briše sto. Onda sedne na kauč, pokrije se ćebetom i odmara. Neki dan gleda seriju, neki dan čita knjigu, a neki dan samo sedi u tišini. Tog dana odlučuje da pročita nekoliko stranica knjige koju je pozajmila iz biblioteke. Knjiga je lagana i prijatna, savršena za umorno popodne.
Pre spavanja pravi sebi topli čaj od kamilice. U kupatilu pere zube, umiva se i stavlja kremu na lice. Oblači pidžamu i gasi svetla u svim sobama. Kada legne u krevet, razmišlja o danu koji je prošao. Bio je dug, ali dobar. Ponovo oseća mir i zahvalnost. Zatvara oči i polako tone u san, spremna za novi dan koji će doći.
New day in Jelena’s life
Jelena lives in a quiet part of the city, in an apartment located on the second floor of an old building with green facades. The apartment is not large, but it has enough space for her: one bedroom, a small kitchen, a living room with a big window facing the street, and a bathroom that always smells like lavender soap. Every morning she tries to start the day calmly, without rushing, even though she often has many tasks to finish.
At six twenty her alarm rings. The sound is not loud but soft and gentle because she does not like sudden waking. First she slowly opens her eyes, then stretches her arms above her head and takes a deep breath. She feels the fresh air coming through the slightly open window. After a few moments she sits at the edge of the bed and puts her feet onto the soft carpet. She always tells herself it’s good to have a routine because it gives her a sense of control and peace.
Jelena stands up and goes to the bathroom. She turns on the light, brushes her teeth carefully, then washes her face with cold water which wakes her up instantly. She dries her face with a soft blue towel that always lies on a small shelf above the sink. She looks briefly in the mirror and checks if her hair looks neat. Sometimes her hair is fine, but sometimes she needs to comb it, so she takes a small comb and makes a few quick strokes.
After the bathroom she goes to the kitchen. First she turns on the kettle to heat the water. While waiting, she opens the fridge and decides what to eat for breakfast. Sometimes she eats yogurt, sometimes oatmeal, and sometimes a sandwich with cheese and tomato. That day she chooses yogurt and bread with a little butter. When the water boils, she makes herself green tea. She sits by the window and looks at the street. Outside, people pass slowly, a man walks his dog, a woman carrying a large bag looks like she’s going to work, and the bus that always passes at the same time can be heard in the distance.
While drinking tea, Jelena checks her phone. She looks at emails, short messages, and notifications. Then she opens the calendar app to check her plan for the day. She has a meeting in the office at ten, an important call around noon, and in the afternoon she needs to prepare several documents. She writes it all down in her small paper notebook because it’s easier for her to remember things when she writes them down.
Around seven ten she starts getting ready. She puts on dark pants, a light shirt, and a simple jacket. In her bag she packs her phone, keys, wallet, tissues, and a small bottle of water. She turns off the lights, locks the door, and walks down the stairs. Outside she feels the fresh morning air, which she likes. She walks toward the bus stop and notices that the morning crowd has already begun.
The bus arrives after a few minutes. Jelena gets in, finds an empty seat, and sits down. While traveling, she observes the people around her: a student reading a book, an older woman holding a bag full of vegetables, and a man speaking softly on the phone, as if he doesn’t want to disturb anyone. Jelena puts on her headphones and listens to soft music. She looks through the window as the city becomes louder and more alive.
When she reaches the office, she enters the building and greets her colleagues. Her office is small but pleasant, with a shelf full of folders and a big desk where she keeps her laptop, notebook, and a mug she uses every day. She turns on her computer, opens her first emails, and starts working. Her job requires a lot of writing and organizing documents. Although it can sometimes be tiring, she likes the feeling of completing tasks on time.
At ten she has a meeting with her colleagues. They sit around a big table and talk about projects. Jelena listens carefully and writes down the most important details. The meeting lasts about forty minutes. After that she returns to her desk and makes herself coffee in the office kitchen. There she briefly talks with her colleague Marko about the weather and weekend plans. Marko says he plans to hike on Fruška Gora, and Jelena thinks she would also like to go somewhere.
Around noon Jelena has an important call. She prepares the document she needs to present and takes a deep breath before the call begins. The conversation lasts about twenty minutes, but everything goes better than she expected. When she finishes, she feels relieved. She decides to take a short break, so she goes outside the building to walk a bit. The weather is pleasant, the sky is partly cloudy, and the wind is light. She watches people passing by and feels her thoughts calming down.
At one o’clock it’s lunchtime. Jelena usually eats simple food she brings from home, but that day she goes with her colleague Milica to a small bakery across the street. She buys cheese burek and a cup of yogurt. They sit on a bench in front of the bakery and talk about everyday matters — the series they watch, the flowers Milica is trying to grow, and their plans for spring. This small conversation always makes her feel good.
After lunch she returns to the office and continues working. The afternoon is quieter than the morning. People talk less and type more. Jelena edits several documents, checks tables, and sends emails. Around three she feels tired, so she stands up, stretches her back, and drinks a glass of water. Then she continues working with new energy.
At four she finishes her workday. She closes her laptop, packs her things, and says goodbye to her colleagues. On her way to the bus she stops by a small store. She buys milk, rice, bread, and apples. Then she gets on the bus and sits near the window. The ride home takes longer because of the afternoon traffic. She watches the reflections of car lights on the wet asphalt.
When she gets home, she takes off her shoes, puts her bag on the table, and opens the window. In the kitchen she unpacks the groceries, washes an apple, and eats it while preparing dinner. She usually cooks something simple: pasta with vegetables or soup. While the food cooks, she sometimes plays music or checks her phone.
After dinner she washes the dishes and wipes the table. Then she sits on the couch, covers herself with a blanket, and rests. Some days she watches a series, some days she reads a book, and some days she just sits in silence. That day she decides to read a few pages of the book she borrowed from the library. The book is light and pleasant, perfect for a tired afternoon.
Before bed she makes chamomile tea. In the bathroom she brushes her teeth, washes her face, and puts on face cream. She changes into pajamas and turns off the lights in all rooms. When she lies in bed, she thinks about the day. It was long but good. She feels calm and grateful. She closes her eyes and slowly falls asleep, ready for the new day that will come.