My alarm went off at five forty-five.
I silenced it before it rang twice, already awake. The house was still dark, the kind of quiet that made every sound feel louder. I pulled on my hoodie and tied my shoes without turning on the main light.
No one stirred.
In the kitchen, the light over the sink hummed faintly. I poured cereal I barely touched, drank water instead, checked the time again.
Six-ten.
I slung my bag over my shoulder and stepped outside. The air was sharp enough to wake me fully.
Miren's car was already at the curb.
She leaned over to unlock the door. "You're early."
"Couldn't sleep," I said, sliding in.
Music played low as we drove. The streets were emptier than usual, washed in that pale blue before sunrise. I watched the city pass.
At the gym, the lights were already on.
Girls filtered in slowly, stretching, yawning, greeting one another. I set my bag down and joined warm-ups.
Counts started. Bodies moved. Breath synced.
Practice picked up fast. Faster than yesterday. I stumbled once and corrected myself without stopping.
I stayed with it.
At some point, Sera tossed me a towel without looking. Miren bumped my shoulder as she passed. Someone complained about early mornings. Someone else said it would be worth it when we won.
By the time we finished, sweat clung to my skin and my legs trembled. We dropped onto the floor in a loose line, staring up at the ceiling.
Lunara lay nearby, counting under her breath.
"I'm tired," I said.
A laugh answered from somewhere beside me.
When we packed up, the sun had climbed higher. School waited.
As we headed out, my phone buzzed in my pocket.
I felt it.
I kept walking.