The sun filtered through the curtains in thin, golden strips. A soft breeze drifted in from the half-open window, rustling the pages of Lily's notebook still left open on her desk from last night.
The alarm had already gone off, but she didn't rush.
Not today.
She sat up slowly in bed, stretching her arms above her head as the fabric of her pajama shirt bunched slightly around her waist. She blinked against the sunlight and let out a soft yawn.
For a few moments, she simply sat there, legs dangling over the edge of the bed, toes brushing the floor.
It was peaceful.
No dreams last night. No echoes of Ethan's past. Just quiet.
After getting dressed — her uniform crisp and clean, the bow tied with care — she took a few extra minutes in the mirror. Brushing her hair, adjusting her collar. It was a small thing, but it helped her settle into herself.
The girl in the mirror wasn't Ethan anymore.
She was Lily. And Lily was learning how to live.
The school gates were already buzzing with students. Laughter. Chatter. The clatter of shoes across pavement. Someone shouted about forgetting their math homework. Another group was debating which snack at the vending machine was best.
Lily passed through the crowd like a breeze, soft and steady.
Some boys glanced at her — the usual looks, the whispers. It didn't bother her anymore. She had gotten used to the way attention clung to her now. It wasn't who she was inside… but it was the body she lived in. And she carried it with quiet dignity.
She took her seat in the classroom near the window, resting her chin on her hand as she looked outside. The sun was warm on her cheek.
A few classmates waved. She nodded politely.
The first period started with literature — the teacher enthusiastically discussing a poem about fleeting time and unspoken love. Lily underlined a line she liked:
"Even in silence, hearts remember."
Between classes, she shared a snack with one of the girls at the back row who offered her a sweet bun with a grin. They didn't talk much, but it was nice. Casual. Normal.
She liked normal.
During lunch, she sat under the shade of the old sakura tree in the courtyard. The blossoms had long since fallen, but the branches still reached toward the sky like fingers longing for spring. She ate her sandwich slowly, listening to the distant hum of conversations, the occasional cheer from the soccer field.
A group of girls passed by, giggling.
"Lily-chan's always by herself," one of them whispered.
But Lily just smiled softly to herself. It wasn't loneliness.
It was peace.
After school, the hallway lights flickered as students slowly filed out, heading home or to their clubs. Lily stayed behind a little longer, pretending to organize her bag. She didn't really want to rush.
On her way out, she passed the art room.
Aki was inside, sketching quietly by the window. He didn't see her, but his expression was calm. Focused.
She smiled faintly, choosing not to disturb him.
Instead, she took the long route home — walking through a path lined with vending machines and blooming flowers along the fences.
The wind blew gently, tugging at her skirt and hair, and for a moment… she felt light. Free. Like the weight of her past life was no longer pressing on her shoulders.
Just the rhythm of footsteps. The sun on her skin.
And the simple beauty of a life still unfolding.