AN ORDINARY DAY IN ELINA’S LIFE 

6:00 AM – Morning Calm 

Elina wakes early, before the sun. The small heater hums softly in the quiet house. She makes a pot of mint tea and looks out the window — the sky pale and cold, the first light touching the rooftops of Leadmund. 

 She enjoys this quiet time before the day begins, writing a short list in her notebook and setting out breakfast for the family. 

6:45 AM – Family Breakfast 

Thomas, her husband, joins her with sleepy eyes and a smile. Soon after, Arvid (10) and Lysa (6) tumble into the kitchen. 

 Breakfast is simple — rye bread, butter, and jam from last summer’s berries. The family talks about the day ahead. 

 Before leaving, Elina touches the carved wooden post by the door, a small family tradition for luck and gratitude. 

7:45 AM – Walking to School 

Elina walks to the school where she teaches. The air is crisp, her breath visible. She greets neighbors, waves to vendors setting up in the market square, and stops briefly to chat with a nomadic family sheknows. 

 The walk is short, but she likes it — it helps her start the day feeling connected. 

8:30 AM – Morning Lessons 

Her classroom is bright and full of children’s drawings and crafts. Today’s lesson is about how people and nature depend on each other. 

 She begins with a short story — one of the old Northavian tales — then leads a small discussion. The children share what their families do to care for the land. 

 Elina listens closely, smiling as they talk. She wants her students to feel proud of where they come from. 

12:15 PM – Lunch Break 

At midday, the teachers gather in the staff room with their lunches. Elina eats lentil stew from home and chats quietly with a colleague about the upcoming cultural festival. 

 She jots a few notes for next week’s lessons — always planning, but never in a rush. 

3:00 PM – End of the School Day 

After the children leave, Elina stays behind to tidy up and prepare for tomorrow. 

 On her desk, she finds a small drawing left by one of her students — a picture of the school garden. She smiles and pins it to the wall. 

4:30 PM – The Market Stop 

On her walk home, Elina stops at the local co-op. She buys potatoes, bread, and a jar of honey. The vendor tells her about a coming storm, and they laugh about how quickly the seasons change. 

 Elina prefers these short conversations — they make her feel part of something larger. 

6:00 PM – Evening at Home 

The house smells of stew and wood smoke. Thomas fixes a broken lantern while Arvid helps, and Lysa colors quietly at the table. 

 Dinner is simple but warm. They eat together, talk about the day, and share small stories. Afterward, Elina reads aloud from an old book of Northavian tales — a nightly ritual her children love. 

9:00 PM – Quiet Night 

When the children are asleep, Elina sits by the window with a blanket around her shoulders. The northern sky glows faintly green. 

 She writes a few lines in her journal before bed: 

“Taught with care. 

 Laughed with my children. 

 Grateful for this day.” 

The house is still. The heater hums softly. Another simple, good day has ended.