Dunja's days in Niš

Today, Wednesday 7 October

1. 7:30amCoffee machine coughed before the first light
2. 11:55amGirl from yesterday came back and ordered the same again
3. 3:40pmThree songs from the fortress slipped into the alley at once
4. 6:20pmSmall table near the door got the last burek of the night
5. 9:45pmRegular left a notebook behind with two pages folded in

On her mind: Sister’s train arrives tomorrow at noon

Tuesday 6 October

1. 7:42amBorek seller finally put the pastry on my side of the counter
2. 3:47pmRight hand still smells like cardamom from the last order
3. 7:22pmJazz started early in the fortress, bleeding through the alley like rain
4. 10:50pmBalcony empty, sun already up, coffee got cold while I watched

Monday 5 October

1. 7:15amDrank cold water and started the coffee machine
2. 12:40pmThe girl who asked for something light took two sips and asked for another
3. 4:10pmFelt my feet ache during the slowest hour of the day
4. 9:05pmThe saxophone player walked in like he knew someone in every corner
5. 11:50pmStepped out, lit a cigarette, watched the same block light up again

Sunday 4 October

1. 7:10amBurek still warm at the tiny place near the river
2. 6:55pmThe first jazz from the fortress reached the bar ten minutes early
3. 10:40pmThe last twenty minutes of the shift ran too smooth
4. 6:05amSun came up over the ugliest block and I stayed on the balcony

Saturday 3 October

1. 7:15amCoffee on balcony while the ugly flats caught the sun
2. 11:30amBurek at the usual spot, still hot from the oven
3. 8:45pmThe last part of the shift went quick for once
4. 11:00pmWalked home with the night air cool on my face

Friday 2 October

1. 7:05amDrank coffee watching sunrise over the ugliest flats
2. 12:20pmAte leftover burek cold from the fridge
3. 7:45pmThe jazz in the fortress made the evening better
4. 10:30pmLast twenty minutes of pouring drinks went quick

Thursday 1 October

1. 7:30amCoffee on the balcony until the ugly flats lit up
2. 12:00pmBurek at the usual spot tasted better than usual
3. 8:45pmLast twenty minutes of the shift dragged on forever
4. 10:30pmSomeone asked for something new and I made it up

Wednesday 30 September

1. 7:30amCoffee on the balcony, sun hitting the ugly flats
2. 1:15pmBurek still warm, tasted like last summer in greece
3. 7:50pmLast twenty minutes of the shift went quiet fast
4. 10:40pmMade a drink for the woman who always sits alone

Tuesday 29 September

1. 7:00amCoffee on the balcony while the ugly flats turned gold
2. 11:15amWarm burek from the corner stall hit the spot again
3. 7:40pmThe last twenty minutes of the shift went by slow
4. 10:30pmTram home with that old jazz riff still looping

Monday 28 September

1. 7:05amBurek by the river brought greece back for a minute
2. 12:30pmViolin upstairs keeps missing the same note every time
3. 6:45pmThe heat stuck to everything on the walk back
4. 10:50pmLast twenty minutes finally arrived and the room eased

Sunday 27 September

1. 7:45amBurek still warm on the walk back home
2. 1:20pmTram sat too long in the heat again
3. 6:05pmJazz from the fortress reached the street
4. 10:50pmLast twenty minutes of the shift dragged
5. 11:30pmCoffee on the balcony as the flats woke up

Saturday 26 September

1. 7:30amAte burek still warm and thought of greece
2. 2:15pmWind rattled the stalls by the fortress wall
3. 10:40pmLast twenty minutes of the shift went fast
4. 11:00pmWalked home past the empty tables in tinkers alley

Friday 25 September

1. 7:30amBurek from the market stall still hot enough to burn
2. 12:15pmThe heat made every step on the pavement feel heavier
3. 6:50pmJazz drifted down from the fortress and stayed in my head
4. 10:40pmLast twenty minutes of the shift went by too fast

Thursday 24 September

1. 7:20amBurek still hot made the walk home worth it
2. 2:10pmHeat pressed down on the benches outside the fortress
3. 8:40pmLast twenty minutes passed faster than they should have
4. 10:55pmBalcony light caught the edge of those ugly flats again