Diario de Javier

At one o’clock, it is time to eat. I go back home and I prepare a simple dish. I make pasta with tomato and I put a little salad on the plate. I drink water and I listen to the radio at low volume. I eat slowly and I rest for five minutes. After that, I eat an apple and I drink a small coffee. I feel stronger for the afternoon.

At two o’clock, I go back to the office. In the afternoon, more people arrive. A family asks me where to buy bread. I say: the bakery is near the town hall. Then a lady asks the bus schedule. I look at the sheet and I answer. On the phone, I speak slowly and clearly. When I can help, I feel useful and happy.

At four o’clock, I finish work. I turn off the computer, I tidy the papers, and I clean the office a little. I turn off the light and I lock the door. Outside, the air is cool, but the sky is nice. I walk through the village streets and I smell firewood. I am tired, but I am also happy with the day.

At five o’clock, I do the shopping in the village shop. I buy bread, vegetables, cheese, and fruit. I meet Marc, a friend, near the counter. We talk about the weather and about work. He tells me something funny and I laugh. I also greet the lady from the shop. In the village, everyone knows each other and I feel at home.

At seven o’clock, I prepare dinner. I put a pot on the stove and make vegetable soup. I cut carrots and potatoes and stir slowly. The house smells like hot food. I eat at the table with a piece of bread. I turn on the heater and feel the warmth. Outside, it is night and the wind blows, but inside there is peace.

At nine o’clock, I relax. I wash the dishes and tidy the kitchen. Then I sit on the sofa and watch TV for a while. Later I read an easy book and drink hot tea. I open my diary and write that I worked well today and talked with kind people. I feel happy and calm.

At eleven o’clock, I go to bed. I turn off the phone and set the alarm for tomorrow. I close the window and turn off the light. I listen to the silence of the village and, sometimes, the wind. I think of something simple and beautiful: a neighbor’s smile in the square. My heart is calm. I close my eyes and fall asleep.