All was serenity and calm, the biggest star of the night paraded in its circular form and, with its silvery light, bathed the firmament. It was a special and magical night, a real treat after such an exhausting day. The relaxing shower soothed my contracted muscles, and the exquisite dinner comforted me pleasantly. Already lying between my soft and warm sheets, I watched through the window as the queen moon assaulted and illuminated my room with its radiance. Thus, in the placidity of the moment, my eyelids surrendered to rest and to an overwhelming sleep.

I lost track of time. In the arms of God Morpheus, I dozed peacefully, maybe minutes or hours, I can't be sure. But, suddenly, uneasiness and impatience invaded me. Sleep disappeared, and I began to toss and turn from one place in the bed to another, trying to catch up on my sleep. I glanced out of the corner of my eye, with the impression of seeing someone sitting at my desk chair. My pulse quickened, I cautiously decided to look again, and my eyes corroborated it.

The chair was occupied by a woman who looked very similar to me, with some differences. Her hair was very short and perfectly combed. Her age was older than mine, or I was younger than her, I don't know anymore. I estimated her to be about 35 years old. Everything about her was dazzling, she conveyed a sense of self-assurance and self-confidence that was mesmerizing. She smiled ecstatically as she caressed, enraptured, every page of my parasitology text. She flipped through it as she pleased as if it had always been in her hands. What a coincidence! Like my tastes, it was my favorite subject. It was a pulsating and exciting moment. I rambled on, questioning, "How did she come to my room? What is she doing here? Is she real, or is she a mirage?"

Suddenly, she looked away from the text and stared me straight in the eye. Then she began her speech. As I listened to her, my senses were altered, and my skin prickled. Her words echoed like drums in the small room. Disturbed, I sat up in bed and looked at her in anguish with great fear.

She immediately sensed my distress and tried to calm me down. "Don't be afraid, ML, I am your present self. I'm here to give you three pieces of advice." I abruptly interrupted her, stating, "What? Please give me answers to my questions: Did I graduate as a doctor? What do I do now? Did I start a family? Do I have children?" My questioning flowed wildly; she, on the other hand, watched me with the patience and sanity that only years can bring.

"Calm down, calm down. I do not come to reveal your present to you, that is not the purpose of my visit. I am the consequence of your actions. You are responsible for what is to come, in your hands are the outlines of your destiny. I bring you three recommendations on which you should reflect and perhaps put into practice! Listen, you are only 20 years old! She got up from her chair and walked to the window guided by the moonlight.

With her eyes lost in the night, the lady of my present continued her arguments: "ML, you have dedicated yourself entirely to your studies, you strive and persevere for it. But... life is not only studies and hope for the future. You have asked me several questions, looking for answers, but you have yet to ask me about happiness or if you are happy in the present. Your life needs a lot of color, nuances and brightness. It is a big mistake, wasting the opportunities to live every day. I recommend you to reflect, under the charm of practical wisdom, as the wealth that strengthens you, makes you a better person with yourself and with others. It is living the day-to-day with awareness, where you will never have absolute control of the circumstances of your life. Work on yourself, recognize yourself, then value and accept others. That's what it's all about."

The lady of my present, continued in her soliloquy "My three pieces of advice, well actually there are four, are immersed in this sentence, pay attention, Life is today, feel it, enjoy it and live it. I will enunciate the advice one by one:

Life is today

Neither before nor after. Savor the here and now, don't waste opportunities or circumstances. Hold on to the good moments, take your time and flow. Rejoice in the every day, therein lies the essence. The now gives value to the present, does not give place to the uncertain and random future.

Feel life

You are the one who gives flavor and spice to your own life. Give it enthusiasm, give it your best. Give yourself time and space to feel and appreciate, connect with your inner self, break the ties that bind you. Assume with gallantry and maturity, your actions and decisions, dialogue with your mistakes, so you will strengthen your security. Leave behind the regrets and grievances, they will limit you, subtracting energy and strength.

Enjoy life

Hold on to what is primordial and cardinal. Do not neglect family and friends, they are there for you and strengthen your reciprocity. Explore and enjoy the simplicity of what surrounds you, the sunrises, sunsets, the breeze, the rain, in short, so many things that it would be infinite to list them all. Always keep in mind the brushstrokes of the details, everything that exists has it even if we do not see it with the naked eye. Put your senses into play, they will be your best allies.

Live life

Life is yours, walk your paths, and feed yourself with the best without pettiness, there will be places where you will stay, and others will stay in you. Everything is sustenance, everything matters, and everything counts. Accept your story as it is, without masks or disguises. Rest when necessary, go back if you need to, or, on the contrary, take new directions. Grow, reflect, but above all, evolve, knowing and valuing yourself. Always try to be happy!."

Inexplicably, several books from my library began to fall, so I turned my attention to the event. After picking them up and placing them in order, I looked around for the lady of my present, but she was no longer in my room...