As she did most days, Fluttershy woke up without an alarm. Darkness continued to rest outside her window as she rose from her bed. Although she technically lived in a double-sized dorm, her parents and the University allowed her to room by herself; she insisted she'd feel guilty rising so early each morning for prayer and risk waking another girl. So the second bed in the room remained untouched which she was fine with because it inevitably meant there was more space for her to put her things. She carefully picked a yellow sweater from one of the neatly folded stacks of clean clothing arranged in a line along the edge of the unmade mattress, as well as a pair of light-wash jeans. Tugging the fabric over her head and stepping into her pants, she shook her hair out from the collar of the top. Grasping it tightly, Fluttershy spent great care in brushing the locks. Her hair was long, thick, and bubblegum pink, a secret defiance from her strict parents. Hanging straight it grazed the bottom of her slender waist and her thin fingers deftly wrapped it up in one quick movement. Holding the knot with one hand, the other enveloped her head with her favorite scarf, a silky pink fabric embroidered with delicate yellow butterflies-She loved it especially for the way the pastel colors contrasted her smooth mocha skin. Two safety pins on either shoulder completed the look and looking in the mirror hanging over her door, Fluttershy was satisfied with her appearance. Suddenly, the clock next to her bedside table beeped to life as if to shout, "It's 6:20! It's 6:20! It's 6:20! It's 6-" She shut it off while striding to the windowsill where she picked up and unrolled a well-worn mat. The decorative adornments were all but faded now, leaving muted colors where bright patterns used to occupy. It had been passed through her family from her great-grandfather, to her grandfather, to her father and now in the absence of a brother, to her. Daylight welcomely creeped around the edges of the skyline as she stood at the foot of the mat, bowed her head and began her daily morning recitations.
"Allahu akbar..."