A pounding headache hit me, as if a drum corps had decided to set up shop in my skull and play an unrelenting rhythm. ’I made you tea.’ A voice said softly.

The room itself seemed to be spinning gently, making me wonder if the ground beneath me had decided to turn into a carousel. The soft light filtering through the curtains of Renee’s apartment felt like a spotlight directly on my face, causing me to squint and shield my eyes with my hand. Tina sat in Renee’s fauteuil next to the couch, crossed arms, her look fixated on me. ’What are you doing here?’ I tried to sit up. Every movement send waves of nausea through my body, and I could taste a mix of regret and stale alcohol in my mouth.

’Renee told me my wife needed me.’ Tina said softly.

The mere act of swallowing was an effort, as if my body recoiled at the thought of taking in anything more. A black suit jacket hung over the arm rest of her chair, a laptop bag leaned against it. I growled. ’Fuck. What time is it?’ My watch said I was going to be late again. ’Shit, I have to get to work.’

’You’re not going anywhere.’ Suddenly she stood next to the couch, a cup of tea in her hands, concern on her face. ’I called Erik to tell him you have a bad case of migraine and you won’t be in for a couple of days.’

’You did what? Jesus Christ, he will…’ The image of Erik’s condescending smile, the 8-seconds before he would finally lay me off. The thought of eventually having to explain Tina that I lost my job too, urged me to sit up. My limbs were heavy and uncooperative, like bags of sand instead of arms and legs.

’He was very understanding. He wishes you well.’ Tina firmly pushed me back and sat down on the edge of the couch. ’What happened last night?’