"Mary, stop working! Let's finish that tomorrow. It's already 9:00 PM—we're hitting overtime again," Mia Willow said, sighing as she looked at her watch.
Mia, my best friend and colleague, was already packing her bag.
"Just a second, I'm almost done. Let me just save this," I replied, my eyes glued to my computer screen.
"Alright, suit yourself. I'm going to stretch and grab some coffee. I'll wait for you downstairs, but please, hurry up," she said, already moving toward the door.
"I will. I'll follow as soon as I'm done," I called out, still focused on my work.
A few minutes later, I heard the click of the office door. "I'm heading down now! See you there," Mia shouted back.
"Go ahead, enjoy your coffee!" I yelled, though I was already lost in my task.
"Are you sure you don't want any?" she asked, pausing in the doorway.
"No, I'm good. Go on, enjoy your coffee, and by the time you're done, I'll be finished here, too," I laughed.
"Fine, focus then," she teased, and finally, she left.
I continued working, my fingers flying across the keys. Time seemed to warp, and suddenly, it was 9:30 PM.
"Ugh, finally!" I groaned, stretching my arms above my head. "Done at last. What time is it?" I checked my watch and gasped. "Oh no, it's already 9:30!"
I scrambled to pack my things, cleared my desk in record time, and rushed downstairs.
"Sorry, Mia! I completely lost track of time," I said, breathless when I finally found her.
"I thought you were going to sleep there! I was about to go back up for you," she laughed, gesturing to her empty cups. "I've already finished two cups of coffee."
"You're obsessed with caffeine! You're not going to be able to sleep tonight," I joked.
"If I can't sleep, it's your fault," she teased back. "I didn't even notice I was on my second cup because of how long you took."
"Hahaha, let's go before you order a third one," I said. "Come on, Mia, let's eat. I'm starving."
"Oh? I thought you were immune to hunger, given your workaholic nature," she teased as we walked down the street.
"Hey, of course I get hungry! We just need to work hard now so we have absolutely nothing to worry about when we're on vacation in Russia," I said, my eyes sparkling with excitement.
"You really are dedicated," Mia sighed. "The power of historical obsession, I guess."
"You know, it's just like your coffee," I said, smiling. "It's what gives me motivation when work gets exhausting."
"Fair point," Mia conceded.
We eventually found a fast-food chain and, over dinner, we spent the entire time mapping out our Russian adventure.
Home
I finally unlocked my front door, dropped my bags, and walked slowly to my bed, collapsing from exhaustion. As I lay there staring at the ceiling, I suddenly remembered the historical drama I'd meant to watch.
"Ah! I almost forgot," I said, jumping up. Watching history documentaries was my favorite way to unwind.
I had been fascinated by history for years, largely thanks to the famous historical painter, Kano Satoshi. I first encountered his work back in high school and became an instant fan. He was legendary for his breathtaking portraits. His most famous work, which he kept hidden away, was a painting of a woman he had loved in secret, titled "The Lady in My Heart." I had always been curious about it, but since I hadn't made it to Japan yet, I had never seen the original.
Before I knew it, sleep pulled me under.
One Week Later
"Hello, Russia! Famous castles, here I come!" I exclaimed, my eyes bright with excitement.
"Wait up, Mary Ann," Mia groaned, stumbling slightly as we exited the airport. "I'm still dizzy."
"Oh, come on! We're finally on vacation, so cheer up!" I said, pulling her along.
"I know, but let me breathe. The flight was brutal," she said, looking a little green.
"Fine, let's get to the hotel," I said, supporting her as we walked.
Once inside our hotel room, I tucked Mia into bed.
"Here, this will wake you up," I said, handing her a fresh cup of coffee.
"Ah, you really are the best friend," she said, pretending to tear up. "You know me too well."
"You're so dramatic," I laughed. "I've known you since high school, after all."
"Thanks for the coffee," she said, taking a sip. Her face lit up. "This really is the best. It tastes different here."
I smiled, looking out the hotel window at the Russian skyline. It was a blur of gray stone and dusting snow, stretching out like a landscape from a dream. I felt a strange sense of anticipation, but I pushed it aside. We were here for the architecture, the history, and to see the famous castle that had been on our bucket list for years.
"Everything okay?" Mia asked, noticing my sudden silence.
"Yeah," I replied, turning back to her with a grin. "I'm just excited. Tomorrow, we finally get to see that castle and walk through all that history we've been reading about."
"I can't wait," Mia laughed, setting her cup down. "Let's get some sleep. Tomorrow is going to be a long day of exploring."
I nodded, feeling a strange, quiet shiver of excitement. I had no idea that by this time tomorrow, the history I loved so much would stop being something I read about—and start being the life I was trapped in.