DISCLAIMER: I don't own Maria sama ga miteru
Yumi sleepily walked out the door of her apartment. She adjusted the bag and books in her arms, felt for her keys and after finding them, locked the door. Glancing out at the rainy morning, she sighed and then pulled out her umbrella.
Trudging down the hall, she slipped her bag onto her shoulder and dropped her keys into it. She took a moment to button the red coat she wore and then entered the elevator. As it descended, she glanced at the books in her arms.
A History of Japanese Architecture lay on top and she smiled wryly. She wondered what time period they would cover in her university class today. Hopefully today's lecture would be interesting.
Yumi sighed.
The elevator doors opened to the foyer of her apartment building and she trudged out, not looking forward to going out in the rain. But it wasn't just the rain that bothered her today. She had to admit, every morning was lonely for her. Every night was lonely, too.
Yumi paused in front of her mailbox. She pulled a mirror out of her bag and then turned so that she could be fully seen by the camera high on the wall of the foyer. Glancing at her mirror, she pretended to smooth her hair, in full view of the camera.
Then she smiled painfully at her reflection.
Good morning…Sachiko.
Yumi thought to herself. She felt a little ache in the region of her heart but she ignored it and tried to smile once more. Then she closed the mirror, completing that morning ritual. After opening her umbrella, she slowly walked out the door, wishing as she had every day for the past year that Sachiko would relent and come to see her.