Week 9 – Taking Days Off Work Due to a Hangover

My phone beeps with a text message.
SORRY MISSED YOUR CALL. WAS PRETTY LATE. HOPE YOU’RE OK? SOUNDED LIKE YOU WERE HAVING A GOOD TIME.
Sender James.

I pull the covers over my head.
I am still in bed.
It’s 8:15am
My alarm has not gone off.
I forgot to set it.
It’s Wednesday.

As soon as I move my head hurts.
My body aches.
I actually think I might be sick.
I get a moment of paranoia.
When did I call James?
What did I say?!
Did I tell him I love him? That I miss him?!
I have only known him three weeks.
We aren’t even dating.
We met each other when he was up on business.
We had kissed.

I must have said something needy and loving.
He didn’t put a kiss at the end of his text message.

I sit up and look at my phone.
I check my sent messages.
Nothing to James.
If I had been sensible enough to send a text message at least I would have known what I had said.
Now I have no idea.
It would look really bad if I ask him.
I know that I had been going on and on to my friends about how much I liked him.
Maybe it was him I told that too as well.
I’m not going to be able to face him again.
At least he works in our Manchester office.

I sit on the edge of my bed.
I’m going to be sick.
I run to the toilet and throw up.
I’m just in my underwear from the night before.
So obviously I had managed to get undressed but had not quite managed to put my pyjamas on.

I flush the toilet.
I try to stand up.
I can’t quite manage.
I think I am going to be sick again.
I wipe my face and blow my nose.
I return to my bedroom.
I collapse on my bed.
8:45am.
I’m meant to be at work in 15 minutes.
There is no way I am going to make it on time.
Actually I don’t know if I will make it at all.
Maybe I could give myself a wee day off.
Phone in sick.
I’ve been working really hard recently on a new project.
We don’t have any deadlines today.
It will only be for one day.
And let’s face it I will not be much good to anyone.
The only position I feel good in just now is lying on my bed or with my head down the loo.

I pick up the phone.
8:55am.
I probably should have phoned earlier.
What will I say...?
Migraine?
Upset Stomach?
Period pains?
Something that will only last a day.
I actually quite like my work.
I’ll say I have an upset stomach.
That’s an ok excuse.

I was not out with anyone from work.
I was with three of my good mates for a birthday.
We were only meant to be out for a couple.
We ended up having such a laugh.
Cocktails.
Karaoke.
And cavorting on the dance floor.

The next thing it was 2am.
Roughly about that time I made that call to James.

I hadn’t told anyone from work I was going out.
Or had I?
Yes.
Sharon in accounts.
I’ll text her and ask her not to say anything.
I did it for her a couple of weeks ago when she had been on a night out with her boyfriend and was too rough to come in the next day.
She owes me a favour.

I dial my boss Jack’s number.
Is his voicemail.
I leave a message.
I text Sharon in accounts to cover for me.

9:15am
Think I need to sleep.

11:40am
My phone is ringing.
It is my boss Jack.
I answer the phone.
He is concerned.
He wants to make sure I am ok.
He asks me where some things are that he needs for a presentation today.
I am the only one who knows where they are.
We say goodbye.

Now I feel guilty about not being at work.
And paranoid about what I said to James at 2am.

Think I need to sleep again.

2pm
I wake.
I drink a large glass of water,
Then I make myself a bacon roll.
I lie on my sofa.
Switch on the TV.
I eat.
I watch Doctors, Murder Diagnosis and Deal or No Deal.

5:30pm.
Feeling pretty hungry now.
I order a Chinese to get delivered.
I don’t want to leave the house in case I bump into anyone from work.
I know a couple of colleagues live nearby.

My sweet and sour chicken with rice and prawn crackers arrives.
I eat.
I watch TV.
We are now onto Hollyoaks, Emmerdale and Coronation Street.

I text James from Manchester.
HOPE ALL GOOD WITH YOU. SORRY ABOUT LAST NIGHTS PHONE CALL I TALK A LOT OF RUBBISH WHEN DRUNK X

I’m feeling pretty tired now.
It’s 9pm.
Think I should go to bed and get a good night’s sleep before work tomorrow.
I set my alarm.
I fall asleep, again, for the last time that day.