Monday morning started the way most Mondays did. Mia's eyes opened before her alarm had the chance to go off. She blinked at the ceiling for a moment, then pushed herself upright. The house was quiet except for the occasional creak of old pipes and the distant hum of the refrigerator downstairs.
She got out of bed and padded barefoot to the bathroom, splashing cold water on her face before tying her hair back in a loose ponytail. In the mirror, she looked tired but awake enough. It would have to do.
The kitchen was waiting for her downstairs, and she headed straight for it. Mondays always meant catching up on whatever had been left undone over the weekend, and today was no different. She washed her hands at the sink and looked around, taking stock of what needed to be done.
