The outside is tormenting me.
*Coughs heavily*
2:30 am: Gosh, why can’t I sleep?
2:45 am: I’m going to scroll through Instagram.
9:55 am: Oh. Wish I’d woken up earlier.
10:10 am: Urgh, the water tastes so weird.
2:00 pm: Huh. When did I fall asleep?
2:30 pm: I can’t even bite into an apple. Is this what old age will be like?
3:30 pm: Oh, rain. Glorious rain.
4:00 pm: Does my head hurt or am I imagining it again?
4:15 pm: I’m bored.
4:30 pm: I’m going to do some university course work.
4:35 pm: Is my body aching?
4:36 pm: Don’t think so.
4:38 pm: My head?
4:39 pm: No.
4:41 pm: Do I need to refill my hot water bag?
4:42 pm: No, you’re not cold.
4:44 pm: Have I recovered from covid?
4:45 pm: It’s possible. But you still have to isolate for a few more days.
4:47 pm: Why do I not feel sick?
…
4:48 pm: Why didn’t my symptoms get worse?
…
4:49 pm: Did I even have covid if I didn’t suffer? How’s that ok?
8:30 pm: This is boring. I’m going to watch something.
1:00 pm: I’m going to bed. I’m perfectly fine. What’s wrong with me?
2:00 am: Why can’t I sleep?
11:00 am: Argh, why’s it so bright?
11:02 am: Shit. I’ve overslept! It’s a weekday.
11:03 am: Blame covid. Go back to sleep.
11:15 am: I need to brush my teeth.
11:21 am: Why does my head hurt?
11:22 am: Stop complaining.
11:23 am: I don’t have a fever. I don’t have breathing problems. Am I even sick?
11:24 am: Yes. Why does my head still hurt?
11:25 am: Am I hungry?
11:26 am: I want coffee.
11:27 am: Drink water.
11:28 am: Oh, yes. Haven’t had any all day.
11:29 am: That’s probably why your head still hurts.
1:00 pm: Did I fall asleep again?
1:01 pm: Yes.
1:05 pm: Shit. Why’s it so bright outside?
1:15 pm: Oh, my lower back hurts.
1:20 pm: It’s like there’s a big rock attached to my head and I have to put it down every hour or so because it’s too heavy to hold up.
2:00 pm: Why’s the time so slow? Thank goodness it’s Friday.
2:05 pm: Hmm, does my head really hurt or am I just making it up?
2:10 pm: I don’t feel sick. Am I just being sick because I feel like I have to be sick?
2:20 pm: What if that rapid test showed a false positive and I don’t have covid at all?
2:25 pm: What if this is just tiredness and jet lag from the 20-hour layover and the 33-hour journey back?
3:00 pm: What a lovely day.
3:03 pm: I miss cooking.
3:05 pm: Why’s the time so slow?
3:30 pm: That’s it. I can’t work anymore.
5:00 pm: What’s this new show, Broadchurch?
5:30 pm: This is like Dr. Who living a mundane life. I like this.
9:30 pm: Damn, I forgot to reply to work.
1:00 am: Oh, boss has texted an hour ago. What’s he doing up so late?
1:03: I’ll just reply before going to bed.
2:00 am: I can’t sleep.
2:02 am: Where’s my hot water bottle?
2:30 am: Instagram’s full of stupid people doing stupid shit.
3:17 am: Why am I up at this hour?
3:18 am: Because you’re cold. Refill your hot water bottle.
3:19 am: Do I have a proper socks somewhere?
3:20 am: No. All the ones you have are holey, and is of no use.
3:21 am: I’m going to look at thermal socks online.
3:25 am: Go back to sleep.
3:26 am: I’m not sleepy. It’s probably the jet lag kicking in.
3:30: What’s on Facebook, I wonder.
3:33: Oh, here’s a funny meme. I’m going to share it.
3:33 am: Go back to sleep.
3:34 am: In a minute. What should I say in the caption?
3:34 am: “I’m exhausted, jet lagged, and confused. Don’t take me seriously”?
3:35 am: Ha, ha, funny. Not.
8:00 am: Why the hell is it so bright outside?
8:01 am: Oh, oh, oh, my head hurts.
8:03 am: Why’s it so bright?
8:05 am: Do I have to get up?
8:07 am: Oh, my colleague’s texted. “Are you ok?”
8:08 am: …
8:09 am: …
8:20 am: Shit, can’t believe I fell asleep again.
8:30 am: Get up! Brush your teeth! Drink coffee!
8:31 am: Mmm, coffee…
8:45 am: Oh my head hurts. Ouch, and my back. Didn’t know that could hurt.
8:46 am: Where’s my hot water bag?
8:48 am: Should I take a selfie of my lying on the bed with the hot water bottle over my back?
8:49 am: …
8:50 am: Don’t be stupid. You’d not going to post it anywhere.
8:51 am: I’m taking it anyway.
8:52 am: Don’t you dare post it on socials!
11:00 am: Why’s the time so slow?
11:15 am: I’m going to lie down a bit.
11:20 am: Why’s the time so slow?
11:30 am: Am I hungry?
11:31 am: I’m having a tea anyway.
11:34 am: Might as well have some bread with it.
12:00 pm: Why’s the time so slow?
12:01 pm: I don’t know!
12:30 pm: My head hurts. I’m going to lie down a bit.
12:31 pm: You do that.
12:45 pm: I think I need a poo.
12:46 pm: Probably for the best.
12:47 pm: Do I have to get up, though?
12:48 pm: You’ll have a lot more work if you don’t.
12:48 pm: Sigh. In a minute.
1:25 pm: Why can’t I type properly?
1:28 pm: Why can’t I put words in the right order?
1:30 pm: Brain fog, probably?
1:31 pm: Can’t be. I can speak clearly and read fine.
1:32 pm …
2:00 pm: I can’t believe I did so much work today.
2:01 pm: Well, you did have a lot of time on your hands. And no where to potter around.
2:30 pm: My head hurts. I’m going to lie down a bit.
3:30 pm: Should I eat something?
3:31 pm: Probably. Are you hungry?
3:32 pm: Not really. But I wouldn’t mind another slice of bread.
4:30 pm: Why does my head still hurt?
5:30 pm: I’m going to lie down for a bit.
5:45 pm: How wonderful it is to lie and bed and listen to the ambient sounds.
6:00 pm: Why does my head hurt? I’m going to close my eyes for a bit. That might help.
11:00 pm: What the hell!?
11:01 pm: You’re cold. Refill your hot water bottle.
11:02 pm: Oh, ffs.
6:45 pm: It’s only been there minutes. Can it really be accurate?
6:46 pm: Should I wait the full 15 minutes or—?
6:47 pm: It’s already showed positive. That’s not going to change just because you wait longer.
6:48 pm: Are you sure, though?
6:55 pm: It’s positive. Just get on with it.
6:57 pm: But I don’t feel sick!
6:57 pm: A lot of people don’t, you dumb arse. Doesn’t mean you aren’t.
7:00 pm: Can I go for my run in the morning, though? I feel like the fresh morning air would help.
7:00 pm: Don’t be an idiot!
7:01 pm: Fine. I’m going to bed. My head hurts.
7:02 pm: Should I read a book?
7:03 pm: Good luck.