Morning sunlight crept through the thin cream curtains in their small bedroom, casting golden rays on the pale green walls. Maya blinked slowly, letting the warm glow wash away the remnants of her dreams. She sat at the edge of the bed and picked up a cold cup of coffee left on the bedside table. The bittersweet aroma brought a faint smile to her lips, reminding her how Adi had forgotten to finish his coffee before they turned off the lights last night.
Before she could straighten the blanket, the front door creaked softly—click! then closed firmly. Adi's footsteps echoed faintly on the wooden corridor floor, growing more distant. This morning marked his first full-time day at his new office. Maya rose and gently brushed off the blanket still draped over her body, stepping onto the cold floor. She walked to the living room, casting a glance at the coffee mug with fading steam and the plate from last night's dinner: a few crumbs of bread and leftover pieces of melon.
The front door had locked itself with a barely audible click. Silence swept through, filling every corner of the room and making Maya's heart beat just a little faster. "Suddenly… it's so quiet." she whispered to herself, her voice nearly lost in the stillness. She placed the coffee cup on the rattan table and moved to sit on the small sofa where they usually sipped tea while working on their laptop. Without Adi beside her, the couch felt unusually spacious, even cold.
Maya pulled her phone from the pocket of the shirt hanging on the chair. The screen lit up with a calendar notification:
"First Meeting: 09:00–10:30."
There were no messages from Adi. Just his short promise from last night at the door: "Maya, good luck today. I'll come home early if I can." still sweetly echoing in her memory. Maya held her breath, then exhaled slowly. She scrolled through her phone, opening the messaging app: nothing. Then she pressed the "Radio" button on the side table.
Piano notes chimed gently, each one flowing calmly, soothing her heart. Maya closed her eyes, letting the Western melody dissolve the unease in her chest. Yet the loneliness lingered. She remembered last December when they had pasted small sticky notes on the first page of their idea book: "Balcony Garden." "Annual Trip." "Home Bakery & Stories." That night, they had closed the book together, wrapped in the warmth of love under their blanket. This morning felt different. Despite the sunshine, she felt like a stranger in her own space.
Eventually, she rose slowly from the couch, stepping toward the tiny kitchen that opened into the living room. On the stove sat the electric kettle, waiting to be turned on. Maya poured water into it and pressed "ON." A soft humming sound followed, accompanied by the scent of warming water. She took a small floral cup, their wedding gift and placed it on a wooden coaster.
While waiting for the water to boil, Maya looked at the note table in the kitchen corner. A thick book with a dark brown leather cover lay open on the weekly schedule page:
Ghostwriting: Monday & Thursday
Grocery Shopping: Wednesday
Prenatal Check-up: Friday
Daily Tasks: (blank)
Maya touched the surface of that empty line. "Alright, Maya." she murmured softly. "Time to fill this morning with something meaningful." She glanced at the shelf corner: a stack of leftover drafts from her pregnancy blog, including a title she had just thought of the night before. With newfound energy, she left the kitchen, returned to the living room and opened her laptop on the rattan table.
Blog Post Draft: "First Morning Alone: Finding Strength in Solitude"
The laptop screen lit up with a blank document. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard and began typing the opening paragraph:
"This morning, the space feels quieter than usual. Adi has stepped out to chase his long-dreamed career at his new office. And I must learn to be strong in this new solitude…"
Maya's eyes sparkled as the words flowed smoothly. She wrote about how loneliness could be the best teacher, forcing someone to dive deep into their inner strength and vulnerability. She imagined her readers, pregnant women who also felt alone in the mornings, newlyweds, or anyone facing major life changes.
After finishing the first paragraph, she exhaled in satisfaction. She saved the draft and glanced toward the kitchen window: the midday sun had started sneaking through the curtains, casting a warm glow in the corner of the room. She stood up, closed her laptop, and headed into the kitchen.
The kettle had boiled. Maya poured hot water into the cup filled with chamomile leaves and a drop of honey. The warm, herbal aroma calmed her heartache. She sipped the tea as she walked back to the couch, closing her eyes for a moment. Slowly, she felt herself reconnecting with her inner self.
On the kitchen table, another notebook lay open on the grocery list page:
Chicken fillet
Garlic, red onion
Bird's eye chili
Red bell pepper
Cucumber
Jasmine rice
Wildflowers
Maya marked them all with a blue pen. Besides cooking Adi's favorite dish garlic chili chicken with fragrant rice, she also planned to prepare a small bouquet of wildflowers as a surprise. "A mini flower basket, sweet and simple." she whispered, imagining Adi's tired face lighting up with joy.
After closing the notebook, Maya picked up a small broom and began dusting the little shelf where they kept travel photos and a few novels. Fine dust scattered as she brushed the wooden surface. Her hands moved skillfully, wiping every corner, making room for new memories yet to be made.
Maya returned to her laptop and opened a digital journal app. She typed her daily journal entry:
May 5, 2025
1. Grateful for the warm sun that chases away the chill of loneliness.
2. Grateful for a dear friend who shared a gentle piano melody.
3. Grateful for a healthy body and an active baby.
4. Grateful for small dreams waiting to come true.
Each line brought a soft smile to Maya's face, a fresh sense of spirit building within her.
By 10:30 AM, after finishing her herbal tea, Maya packed a small bag: wallet, phone, keys, and a peanut butter sandwich. She put on a long-sleeved shirt and comfortable leggings, then pulled on pale blue knitted socks sent by her cousin. Her steps felt light as she walked to the door. Holding the handle, she whispered to herself, "I hope everything goes well today."
At the clinic, she filled out a form and sat in the waiting room adorned with landscape paintings. When her name was called, the doctor checked her blood pressure, listened to the baby's heartbeat, and ensured Maya was healthy. Light conversation warmed the atmosphere: the doctor shared news about her own newborn baby, while Maya mentioned her surprise plan for Adi. After the check-up, Maya received her next appointment and a prescription for iron supplements. She said thank you and left with a smile.
Outside, the midday sun was bright but comforting. Maya walked across the street to the flower market. She chose a bouquet of wildflowers purple asters, white daisies and baby's breath tied with a simple burlap ribbon. The florist smiled warmly as Maya paid. "For your husband?" the vendor asked. Maya nodded shyly. "Yes, it's his first day at work. I wanted to surprise him." The florist beamed. "That's wonderful, Miss."
Next, Maya crossed over to a small traditional market. She picked out chicken fillet, garlic, bell peppers, chili, and jasmine rice from various stalls. She inspected each item carefully, the fresh red bell peppers, the distinct aroma of jasmine rice, the tantalizing sharpness of chili. After finishing her shopping, she packed everything into an eco-friendly bag.
At 3:00 PM, Maya arrived home. She arranged the flowers in a small vase on the living room table and laid the cooking ingredients on the kitchen counter. She heated some oil, sautéed garlic and shallots until fragrant, and added thinly sliced chicken fillets. Bell peppers and chilies followed, the spices soaking in perfectly under the heat. The jasmine rice cooked beautifully in the rice cooker, releasing a comforting aroma. For the salad, she thinly sliced cucumbers and mixed them with a dash of vinegar and salt.
When everything was ready, she plated the food on their favorite dishes: glistening spicy chicken, fluffy white rice, fresh salad, and a glass of young coconut water cool and refreshing to balance the spiciness. Beside the plates stood the wildflower bouquet, neatly arranged.
Afternoon quietly turned into evening. Maya turned off the stove and washed her hands. She set up their balcony with soft pillows, an electric candle, and two glasses of cold water. Her steps felt light again as she returned to the softly lit living room. Every second, her heartbeat grew faster.
At 6:15 PM, the sound of a key turning in the door echoed. "Maya?" Adi's voice called out—tired but eager. Maya blushed, stepping into the living room to greet him.
Adi dropped his work bag and unbuttoned his jacket, smiling widely. His eyes immediately caught the bouquet and the aroma of the meal. "What's all this?" he asked in awe.
Maya nodded, holding back emotional tears. "A surprise for you. Your first day, I wanted you to come home to a warm embrace."
Adi stepped forward and hugged her tightly. "You're incredible." he whispered into her ear. "This feels like… coming home."
That night, they sat side by side on the tiny balcony, enjoying Maya's meal. City lights twinkled in the distance, the hum of traffic and soft music from the radio creating the perfect backdrop. With every bite, they talked about Adi's day at the new office, his new colleagues, his first presentation, and tomorrow's plans. Maya listened, eyes sparkling, her heart full of love.
As the plates were cleared, Maya held Adi's hand. "How was your day?" she asked gently.
Adi looked at her lovingly. "Challenging, but joyful. And this… this makes me feel like I've truly come home."
Maya smiled and lowered her gaze. "I'm glad you liked it."
They fell into a peaceful silence. The chirps of sparrows marked the end of the day and the beginning of a warm night. Maya closed her eyes, savoring the moment, the moment where the loneliness of morning turned into the warmth of shared evening.
On her journal page, beneath the once-blank morning schedule, Maya wrote a single sentence:
"Today, I learned that solitude can awaken creativity and love. Tomorrow, when he wakes, we will walk forward together again."
And with that, Maya closed her notebook, embraced Adi, and gazed at the star-filled night sky, a sign that no morning is too quiet, and no solitude lasts too long, as long as love always finds its way home.