Tijana's days in Belgrade

Today, Wednesday 7 October

1. 7:08amCoffee hit the window ledge, steam made the glass fog before I drank
2. 9:50amThe corner fern finally opened, looks bigger than yesterday
3. 1:22pmSomeone left the door open on the tram and I complained out loud
4. 5:45pmAjvar almost gone, scraped the jar with the last piece of bread
5. 8:15pmBath went lukewarm fast, stayed anyway until the taps started dripping again

On her mind: Snow still untouched outside the window

Tuesday 6 October

1. 7:30amPoured coffee over the sink, the bowl steamed up fast
2. 9:15amThe back shelf stayed too cold again, the ferns protested
3. 1:45pmA neighbor asked about ajvar, offered some for later
4. 6:20pmBathwater kept cooling, stayed in until the taps dripped
5. 10:10pmSaw first snow through the plants, didn’t open the window

Monday 5 October

1. 7:14amWatched sunrise hit the first fern leaf, not open yet
2. 10:52amScrubbed my nails twice and they’re still green under
3. 3:38pmPressed dirty palms to the pot I always meant to fix
4. 6:07pmMended the cracked saucer before rinsing ajvar off my hands
5. 10:43pmWater finally cooled after an hour in the bath

Sunday 4 October

1. 7:30amTouched fern spore on arm, still smelled like soil on the tram
2. 11:15amPatched the torn sleeve with garden string instead of buying new
3. 3:40pmThe whole glasshouse filled with the faint garlic scent of ajvar at lunch
4. 6:10pmStood in the tub until the water cooled, skin still damp at nine
5. 9:45pmSnow fell outside the warm flat, white and untouched on the sill

Saturday 3 October

1. 7:45amCoffee cooling slow on the sill with the ferns
2. 12:30pmImpossible cutting finally pushing out a pale root
3. 4:45pmFlat still too warm, plants taking the heat for me
4. 7:15pmBath ran long, water turned the same green as dusk
5. 10:30pmMended the torn curtain hem before the light left

Friday 2 October

1. 7:30amFerns dew — wet before the gates open
2. 4:15pmBrought home a cutting that shouldn't root
3. 7:45pmBath ran long enough for the water to cool twice
4. 10:30pmFlat still too warm but the plants look content

Thursday 1 October

1. 7:30amCoffee by the open window even though the heat lingered
2. 4:45pmBrought home soup and sat with the plants for a while
3. 7:30pmStayed in the bath until the water cooled completely
4. 10:00pmMended the blanket edge by the lamplight

Wednesday 30 September

1. 7:15amCoffee gone cold while repotting the cuttings that rooted
2. 4:20pmBrought ajvar from the market, still warm in the bag
3. 7:40pmMended the old blanket, the stitches holding better than new
4. 10:10pmStayed too long in the bath, water almost gone cold

Tuesday 29 September

1. 7:15amCoffee by the plants before the sun hit
2. 4:45pmAjvar from the market still warm in the jar
3. 7:20pmMended the sleeve while the flat stayed too warm
4. 10:40pmBath ran long and the water went cold anyway

Monday 28 September

1. 7:30amToo many plants in one flat, but it feels right
2. 4:45pmAjvar season starting, bought three jars without thinking
3. 7:30pmBath lasted longer than planned, forgot the time
4. 10:00pmFixed the tear in the curtain, looks almost new

Sunday 27 September

1. 7:30amFound a fern cutting that rooted against all odds
2. 4:45pmAjvar tasted exactly like the end of summer
3. 7:30pmStayed in the bath until the water went cold
4. 10:00pmMended the torn sleeve by the open window

Saturday 26 September

1. 7:15amThe tram was packed but the window seat was free
2. 4:30pmTried to root the cutting everyone said wouldn't
3. 6:45pmStayed in the bath long after the water cooled
4. 9:00pmMended the old shirt while the plants filled the dark

Friday 25 September

1. 7:45amCoffee strong enough to wake the whole flat
2. 4:30pmAjvar from the stall tasted like last september
3. 7:15pmBath went on until the water cooled twice
4. 9:30pmMended the curtain hem while it rained outside

Thursday 24 September

1. 7:45amFerns already misted, left them to the quiet
2. 4:20pmAjvar from the market, first proper taste of september
3. 7:10pmMended the torn sleeve instead of buying new
4. 9:40pmImpossible cutting has roots after all
5. 10:55pmBath ran long, water still warm when I stood up