Kate sat fidgeting in her seat. Two hours she'd been stuck in this meeting and she's been craving a cigarette since at least the hour mark. She could see it in her mind - the lovely orange fiilter popped between her made up lips, the smoke filling her lungs, the bite of the smoke as it entered her lungs and the sweet hit of the nicotine as it hit her blood. Why oh why wouldn't the CEO just shut up so she could sneak out for one?
"...and that about concludes where we are this quarter. If you have any concerns about your targets please speak to your line manager, otherwise I'll see you in three months."
The CEO had finally finished and the workers started gathering their papers, breaking up into little groups and heading for the exit of the conference room. Kate, of course, only had one thing on her mind and she grabbed her bag even before the boss had finished speaking and headed for the fire escape where a group of fellow smokers could be found at any time of the working day. Almost shaking with the craving she struggled to unfasten her bag and extract the ready rolled tube that would give her the sweet relief she was craving. A quick flick of the lighter and Kate was in Marlboro country and more relived than she thought possible. Ten minutes later after chaining two cigarettes she was back at her desk, feeling a little more sane and a little more human, vainly chewing a piece of gum to try and cover the smokey smells clinging to her clothes and hair. Thirty-six years old she was a relatively new smoker but in just a few months the addiction had taken over her life.
Of course a lot of it was down to the pandemic. After a couple of weeks sealed in her home hoping that the new flu didn't get her, Kate had been asked by a friend to help him clear out his grandparent's house who had recently passed. Relieved at finally having something to do Kate had jumped at the opportunity and drove down the very next day. While clearing out the detritus that had built up in their retirement and shifting it to a rented dumpster, Kate had come across a pack of rolling tobacco, some left over papers and filters that her friends grandfather had clearly forgotten, or simply not had time to smoke.
"Hey Jeff," she asked her friend "What do you want to do with these?"