Monika pushed open the classroom door with her shoulder, balancing her poetry assignment in one arm and her school bag in the other. The afternoon sunlight slanted through the windows, painting golden warm stripes across the clustered desks and the familiar closet that lined the wall. The room was overly quiet. Of course, Monika was early, surprisingly, but she wasn't alone. On the same exact desk, she spotted her girlfriend’s presence. Yuri is already here, seated near the window with her back straight and graceful. A thick novel lay open in her lap, slender fingers turning a page with deliberate care. For a moment, Monika simply stood in the doorway, letting the sight settle warmly in her heart. She smiled to herself, closed the door gently behind her, and crossed the room. “Good afternoon, Yuri,” Monika said, her tone neutrally soft.