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Stacey sat up slightly and squinted at the clock across the room, struggling to make out the bright red numbers through her blurry vision. The time barely registered as she laid back down, reaching out instinctively for Jhoanna. In the back of her mind, she knew they still had about twenty minutes before they needed to be up and getting ready for work.
But as her hand met the cold, empty sheets, Stacey groaned. It was Friday—Jhoanna's early day. She vaguely remembered her partner kissing her goodbye before slipping out of the room at 5:45AM.
Whenever Jhoanna left early, she'd leave the blinds closed so Stacey could sleep in, an exception to their usual morning routine where Jhoanna opened the blinds and made the bed while Stacey went downstairs to start the coffee. The false darkness in the room had fooled her into thinking it was still dawn.
"Shit." Stacey shot up, heart racing as she glanced back at the clock: it was 7:14 a.m., and Jhoanna had forgotten to set the alarm. School started in an hour and fifteen minutes, and she was going to be late.
After a quick shower, Stacey dashed to her closet and grabbed the first things she could find. "Thank god for casual Fridays," she muttered, pulling on a fitted yellow Henley and jeans. She twisted her hair up into a messy bun, then jogged downstairs to slip on her black shoes by the door. A quick check of her watch told her she'd have just enough time to grab a coffee—barely.
As she headed toward the Keurig that Jhoanna had insisted they get for mornings just like this, Stacey noticed her usual travel mug already set out. Next to it was a five-dollar bill folded into an origami tulip and a sticky note:
"We're out of coffee, so pick up your favorite from our usual spot on me. I'll get more on the way home. Love you ❤️." - Jho
Checking her watch again, Stacey realized she'd be pushing it if she stopped for coffee, but she needed it, so she decided to take the risk.
Stepping outside, she was hit by an unseasonably cool breeze and ducked back inside for a pullover. Jhoanna's black-and-purple checkered button-up from the night before was hanging over the staircase banister. "This'll do," she murmured, grabbing it and rolling up the sleeves. For once, she was glad Jhoanna sometimes left things scattered around.
She locked up and made it to the coffee shop in record time. While waiting for her chai latte with two shots of espresso, she shot Jhoanna a quick message.
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