Tuesdays

Category B: Highly Commended (2026) Monash Short Story Writing Competition
Author: Amrita Nair

3/03
Tuesday.
I couldn’t ignore the ringing of the alarm blaring into my ears any longer. I silenced the alarm and dragged myself out of bed.
5am.
The sun hasn’t even graced us with its presence and yet, to keep up with living, I’m forced to be up.
Hauling myself into the kitchen, I reached for the same loaf of bread, pulled out two slices without a second thought, and slid them into the toaster. I could probably butter the toast with my eyes closed.
Some mornings I wonder if I'd notice.
The old chair creaked as I sat down facing the barren table, the cold floor and table seeped into my skin as I spread butter onto the pieces of toast.
Grabbing my keys and bag I step outside, the cold wind already making me curse this day. Wandering though the early streets, I arrive at the familiar cafe, the bell ringing as I make my way inside. Ordering my usual latte I take the moment to glance around the room as I wait. The same workers as every Tuesday, the same person flipping through another book as usual, like clockwork.
I glanced around the place once more, grabbing my drink, before heading out of the cafe.
Walking down the street with a warm cup of coffee, I glanced up at the sky, the sun was rising as it always does, but as usual the clouds dim what could’ve been a gorgeous sunrise.
The florist was already outside, arranging bunches of daffodils beneath a grey morning sky.
As I walked by the stall he waved at me cheerfully before saying something about the day, weather or whatever small talk people have. I nodded politely and offered a small smile before continuing to the station.
The familiar announcement echoed as the train rolled in at the usual time. I climbed aboard, settling into the same seat by the window. As the doors slid shut, the florist, the cafe, and the quiet streets disappeared behind me.
Another Tuesday had begun.

10/03
Waking up as the alarm rang I dragged myself into the bathroom as usual. The mirror reflected the same tired face, The toast browned the same way, and the chair complained beneath my weight like it always did. The streets were quiet and the wind was chill as every day, I secured my coat as the coldness caught up with me. I made my way to the cafe, ordering the same latte without looking at the menu.
The same workers as every Tuesday and the same person sitting with her drink but this time as I walked by, she waved, and I nodded back, thinking little of it before stepping back into the cold morning.
I walked past the same florist and the clouded sunrise before making my way to the station.

17/03
The alarm ran again at 5, I got up before I even fully registered it. The morning unfolded exactly as it always did. As I left the cafe, the familiar chime of the bell as the door closed behind me rang.
The air felt a little warmer than usual.
I glanced up out of habit, expecting another blanket of grey muting the sunrise but instead I was met with a breathtaking diffusion of oranges, golds and pinks bleeding through the sky.
The clouds were gone, and I stopped just for a moment from my dull walk to admire the sunrise.
It was always there, behind the gloomy grey veil.
I paused for a heartbeat before continuing towards the station, walking past the florist yet again with the usual good mornings and the collections of daffodils.
The train would arrive all the same.

24/03
Alarm dragged me awake from a dream I can’t remember. Everything else followed as it always did, mirror, toast with butter and the old creaking chair.
The walk to the cafe was familiar enough and the day felt a little bit warmer, the sunrise has been shining through a clearer sky recently.
The bell chimed as I stepped inside the cafe. Before I could order my drink, the girl behind the counter looked up and smiled.
"Large latte?" she asked, already reaching for a cup. I blinked pausing for a moment before nodding "Yeah... thanks."
She'd remembered the order. I thanked her again before walking out. My hands warmed by the coffee cup as I continued towards the station, wondering how long I'd been coming here without ever noticing people knew me too.

31/03
For the first time in a while. I woke up before the alarm went off.
I followed the same routine as always, I got the same drink as always, and the walk was the same as always.
I grabbed out my phone to check the train and there it was in red letters. Delayed: 10 minutes.
I sighed before putting my phone away, my eyes skimming across the display of flowers in the stall.
"You know," the florist said, trimming the stems of a bunch of daffodils, "I see you every Tuesday. Five years, isn't it?"
I blinked. Has it really been that long?
"Everyone waits for something exciting to happen," he said. "Meanwhile, the exciting bits walk right past them."
With the train delayed, the florist and I talked for a few minutes before I headed towards the train.
As I sat on the same window seat I thought about the past few weeks. How everything had changed, no matter how slightly. The clear sunrise, the people I’ve always seen but never talked to and the cafe worker remembering my order.
As I reflected upon my life I realised something.
There doesn’t need to always be an exciting adventure or new things for a life to feel complete.
As long as you always remember to be grateful for the things you have and remember to look around once in a while, you’ll find that happiness can always be found in a routined steady life.