𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐄, jann mardenborough

𝟎𝟔. The Time We Have Left

The next morning, Madelyn woke up to the warm rays of sunlight streaming through her window. She rubbed her eyes with the palms of her hands as she sat up, finding comfort in the gentle breeze that came through the window across the room. Her apartment was quiet as she glanced around, noticing that she was now alone.

As she pulled the blanket back over her legs, she noticed a small piece of paper that was tucked underneath her phone on the coffee table. Her brows furrowed and she leant over, taking the torn piece of paper between her fingers. She opened the note, her tired eyes scanning over the message with curiosity.

Sorry to just disappear, didn't want to wake you again. Had to run but I'll text you after the race to let you know how it went.

See you soon,

Jann

Her lips curled into a smile as she read Jann's messy handwriting that was scribbled on the back of an envelope of an old power bill. Sitting up, she lifted the note to her lips, trying to contain her smile as her thoughts wandered back to the previous night. Her fingers reached for her phone, the urge to send him a text instantly tugging at her. However, the recollection of Jann having to spend the first half of his day with his Dad made her change her mind.

Today was going to be a big day for him and the last thing she wanted to do was distract him.

Madelyn figured she should shift her focus to the day ahead. It was important for her to take care of herself (especially with the headache she had unfortunately woken up with). She followed her usual morning routine, taking comfort in the familiar steps. The warm shower helped her feel more awake, and the scent of her lavender soap brought a sense of calm, easing the aching in her temples.

The outfit she chose to change into was comfortable and kept her focused on her goals for the day.

Before tackling a university assignment she should have started a week ago, she decided to make time to do some mental health activities. Madelyn shuffled over to her cozy reading chair by the window in her living room and sat down, a cup of green tea in hand. The gentle rustle of leaves on the pavement on the street below combined with the distant chirping of birds created a calm atmosphere. She practiced deep breathing exercises, allowing herself to let go of any tension or worry. It was essential to clear her mind and set a positive attitude for the day.

Once her mind felt centered, she spent some time journaling. She wrote down her feelings, thoughts, and positive affirmations. Once she was finished, she grabbed her laptop and set it down on the table in front of her. 

A few hours passed as she typed away at her laptop. The pages of the textbook that sat in front of her were highlighted and filled with messy scribbles. As she typed and watched the word count go up, it gave her a sense of accomplishment. Yet, she couldn't help but glance at the clock quite often, always mindful of the time.

Jann's race was scheduled for 3:00pm and it weighed on her mind persistently. While she desperately tried to keep her attention on her work, the thought of him entered her mind and she couldn't help but wonder about the excitement and anxiety that he must be feeling as he mentally prepared for the race.

She eventually submitted her assignment with a sigh of relief, glad that she had managed to power through it despite the looming deadline. She glanced at her apple watch, and the numbers blinked back at her, now showing 3:46pm. The intense anxiety she had been feeling all day intensified. His race was definitely over by now, yet she hadn't heard anything from him. The uncertainty chewed away at her, making her tap her pen on the table.