#morningrush

I didn’t hear my alarm.

Or maybe I did, and just didn’t react to it in time. Either way, I woke up later than I should have, the kind of late that instantly changes the pace of your entire morning.

There’s no slow start on days like that.

Everything becomes quicker—getting dressed, grabbing your bag, skipping the usual routine. You move faster, but somehow feel less prepared. The room still feels quiet, like it’s not ready for you to leave yet, but you don’t have a choice.

I threw something on without thinking too much about it. Just what was closest, what felt right in that moment. A quick outfit that works even when you're running late—not planned, but reliable enough to carry you through the day.

Stepping outside, the campus was already fully awake.

People were moving in steady lines, conversations already mid-flow, bikes passing by like they had somewhere important to be. It felt like I had missed the beginning of something, like I was trying to catch up to a day that had already started without me.

I adjusted my pace.

Not quite running, but faster than usual. The kind of walk where you’re aware of every second, every step measured against how late you might be. But even in that rush, there are moments that slip through.

The air felt cooler than expected. Not cold, just enough to wake you up a little more. The sunlight cut across the buildings at an angle that made everything look sharper, more defined.

Halfway across campus, I slowed down.

Not because I had time—but because I realized rushing wasn’t changing much anymore. Some things were already set. Being a few minutes late wouldn’t undo everything.

So I walked.

Still purposeful, but less frantic.

That’s when I noticed how comfortable everything felt, despite the rushed start. The layers I had thrown on without thinking actually worked. Nothing felt out of place. Sometimes the best choices are the ones you don’t overthink.

I pulled slightly at the sleeves, settling into a comfortable everyday layer that fits into any routine, something that made the morning feel a little more manageable, even if everything else had started off wrong.

By the time I reached the building, I had stopped checking the time.

Whatever happened next would happen.

I paused at the entrance for a second, catching my breath—not from running, but from the shift in pace. From rushing to just being there.

Days don’t always start the way you expect.