Health Scare
Maya's flat, a grey Monday morning
The mystery payment was a duplicate invoice that had already been refunded. Once Maya checked the dates, the explanation made sense, but three late nights of fearing fraud had already left her drained. She ignored Lena's messages about sleep because her busy schedule seemed impossible to slow. By Monday morning, even standing up felt like work.
The exhaustion had caught up with her. Maya had come down with a heavy cold she could not shake. Since she had taken over the team, every late night had felt necessary. She had also stopped the morning rides just when she needed regular exercise most. The question was not whether she could finish the report; it was what finishing would cost.
While changing into clean clothes, Maya noticed she had put on a little weight since the morning rides stopped. The observation bothered her less than how long it had taken her to notice her own body. Lena arrived with soup and said, "I miss you. Work gets every evening, and the rest of us get whatever is left." Maya realised Lena was asking for their friendship back.
On the phone that evening, the launch deadline three days away
By nine, fever climbing and the report unfinished, Maya nearly broke down on the call. Priya, the senior colleague named as deputy in Sam's handover, was authorized to cover the launch, but accepting help felt like failure. Lena said quietly, "Keep in mind that a deadline can move. You cannot keep borrowing from your body." Maya tried to keep calm, listened and did not answer immediately.
Maya chose rest and asked Priya to cover. She would get over the cold first, then return properly. Lena promised to back her up if anyone questioned it.
Lena: Lena said, "I don't need you impressive. I need you well enough to answer the door sometimes." Maya apologised for disappearing into work.
Maya closed the laptop, kept her phone off and let the report wait. Two days later, she had begun to bounce back. When she returned to the office, a stranger was sitting in her chair.