"Wake up, wake up, Ximena!" my mother's voice pierced through my half-sleep haze.
"Mommy, leave me alone. I need a little more sleep," I groaned, burying my face deeper into the pillow.
"You'll be late for school!" she insisted.
Sighing, I threw the covers off and swung my legs onto the floor. The room was still dim, the morning sunlight barely peeking through the curtains. My alarm clock blinked 6:45 a.m. I groaned again—why did mornings always feel like a battle I was destined to lose?
I ran to the bathroom and turned on the shower. Hot water hit my skin, shaking off the last remnants of sleep. After drying, I pulled on my skinny jeans and a simple crop top, tying my hair into a messy ponytail. Looking at myself in the mirror, I whispered, "You've got this, Ximena. Another day."
Downstairs, the aroma of breakfast hit me before I even saw my parents. My dad sat at the dining table, reading the newspaper, and my mom was busy arranging plates of scrambled eggs and toast.
I ran over to my dad and kissed him on the cheek.
"Good morning, Daddy," I said.
"Good morning, cupcake," he replied, a small smile warming his face.
"What's for breakfast today?" I asked.
"Scrambled eggs and toast," he said, pointing toward my mom.
I grabbed my plate, taking a moment to inhale the smell of buttered toast and perfectly cooked eggs. Even in the rush of mornings, these little comforts made life feel… normal.
I ate quickly, shoving down bites while stealing glances at my parents. They seemed… excited about something. My mother kept glancing at the clock and my father was unusually quiet. I wondered briefly what could be going on, but there wasn't time to ask. School wouldn't wait.
After finishing, I ran my plate to the sink, grabbed my backpack from my room, and slung it over my shoulder.
"Bye, Mom. Bye, Dad," I called.
"Bye, darling," they said in unison, smiles lingering.
Stepping outside, I felt the crisp morning air on my skin. Everything seemed ordinary—the quiet streets, the distant hum of cars, and the chatter of early risers heading to school. I adjusted my backpack and hurried toward the bus stop, hoping I wasn't late.
Just my luck, the bus was already there, and I had to sprint the last few steps. My backpack slipped, swinging wildly as I stumbled through the bus doors.
"Whoa! Easy there!" the bus driver called, laughing as I caught my balance and slid into an empty seat. I plopped down with a dramatic sigh, giving myself a mental pep talk.
"Alright, Ximena," I whispered, leaning back and staring out the window, "let's survive another day of school… hopefully without tripping over anything else."