Preparation

night before. She set her bag on the chair, powered on her computer, and pulled the stack of syllabi closer. The first day always felt the same. Clean desk. Fresh printouts. That quiet stretch of time before the building filled with voices.

She sat down, crossed one leg over the other, and began reviewing the schedule for her introductory biology course. Lecture topics, lab rotations, grading percentages. Her pencil skirt pulled tight across her thighs as she leaned forward. The blouse shifted just enough that the lace edge of her bra showed when she reached for a pen.

A soft knock sounded at the open door.

“Morning, Isabella.”

Professor Elena Lee leaned against the frame, holding her own travel mug. Elena taught chemistry two floors down and had the kind of easy smile that made everyone like her on sight.

“Morning,” Isabella said, glancing up. “You’re in early.”

“Figured I’d get in before all the traffic,” Elena replied. “What you working on?”

“Just double-checking the lab dates. I don’t want any surprises.”

Elena chuckled. “You’re the only one who still does that by hand. Everyone else just recycles last year’s syllabus.”

“I like knowing it’s right.”

They talked for a few more minutes about the new semester and the usual first-day chaos. Eventually Elena pushed off the doorframe and lifted her mug in a small goodbye.

“Gonna go make some copies of the syllabus. See you at later!”

“See you,” Isabella said.

The office fell quiet again. Isabella finished the last notes on the schedule, stacked the printed copies neatly, and checked the time.

8:52.

She stood, smoothed her pencil skirt, and gathered the syllabi. The hallway was beginning to fill with the low sound of early students. Isabella locked her office, heels steady on the tile, and walked toward lecture hall 204.

A few students were already scattered across the seats when she stepped inside. Conversations quieted as she set her things on the front table. She wrote her name on the board in clean letters, turned to face the room, and waited for the last stragglers to settle.

“Good morning,” she said. “I’m Dr. Keller. Welcome to Introductory Biology.”