Chapter 1
The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, casting long, honey-colored shadows across the bedroom floor where Elena was frantically packing for her weekend trip. She was in that state of chaotic energy where you’re certain you’ve forgotten the one thing that will make or break the holiday.
She reached into the bottom drawer and pulled out a pair of bright yellow panties—the kind of cheerful, sunflower-shaded cotton that felt like an immediate mood boost. She paused for a second, smoothing the fabric. There was something about the color yellow that felt like a tiny, private rebellion against the gray, rainy week she’d just survived at the office.
"Sunlight in a drawer," she whispered to herself, tossing them into her suitcase on top of her favorite sundress.
The next morning, the coast was a blur of salt air and crashing waves. As Elena hiked up the trail toward the lighthouse, the wind whipped her skirt around, but she just laughed. No one else knew she was wearing a secret bit of summer underneath her hiking gear, but it made her step feel lighter. It was a small detail, a personal choice of color that felt like a quiet promise to herself: no matter how high the wind blew or how steep the trail got, she was carrying her own sunshine with her.
