It was a Friday morning in late spring. Kate had had a long week and had a full day of client meetings today, but still, it was Friday. She planned on spending the weekend doing nothing at all. But today, there was no option of staying in bed.
At least, that's what Kate thought until she opened her eyes. A sledgehammer pounded her forehead, and her neck was too stiff to move. The bright sunshine streaming in from the windows was too much for her. Kate closed her eyes again and turned away from the window, burying her head in her pillow.
"Ohhh." She let out a low groan. Why today? She had no time for distractions today, especially not the king of all tension headaches. She lay still, barely breathing as the pain throbbed in her skull. Letting out a long breath, she decided there was no way she could remain like this. It was time to go.
Kate slipped her legs out from under the sheets and sat on the edge of the bed, sighing deeply. She glanced at her reflection in the mirror opposite. She was in her late thirties and had aged extraordinarily well. Her skin was firm and smooth and clear, her figure slender. She had no freckles, which was rare for a redhead. Her nose was straight and patrician, and her mouth medium-full. She appeared the pinnacle of elegance. Her long red hair was layered around her face, and her striking green eyes were mostly serious but could turn vivacious at random moments. At 5'9", she towered over many men, but most of them didn't mind -- her height meant her legs were shapely and long. Men loved her legs.
She was normally not milky pale, but this morning, her face was white as a sheet. As she reached up to brush her long bangs off her forehead, she rubbed her aching temple, pressing hard. But it did no good. The headache would not budge.
After a few minutes of sitting, Kate forced herself to stand. She took her blue silk robe from the hook by the bed and slipped it on. The hem brushed her bare thigh, a tad longer than her nightgown. She planted one bare foot in front of the other and made her way to the bathroom, trying to concentrate on all of the people who were expected at her office today. She was the vice-president of finance at a corporation that made medical supplies. Her office was never empty of people seeking more money.
As she reached the double French doors of the bathroom, her stomach lurched. Kate froze, putting a hand to her stomach and grasping the edge of the door with the other. Oh, God! She closed her eyes and breathed deeply, trying to ease the sudden nausea. But the feeling was too strong. With her hand pressing against her stomach and the pain in her head growing worse, Kate ran to the toilet and threw up.
She knelt on the floor for a few minutes afterward, trying to regain the strength to stand. Her head ached mercilessly, causing another groan to slip past her lips. Then she got to her feet and walked to the sink to rinse and brush her teeth, knowing that work was no longer an option.
Kate called her secretary to let her know she wouldn't be in, then called her best friend in marketing to cancel the quick lunch they shared on Fridays.
"Why?" Sarah's voice was concerned. "Are you sick?"
"I have a terrible headache," Kate told her.
"Oh. Can I bring you anything? Will you be all right?"
"I'll be fine. I just need some rest." With that, Kate eyed her bed, which suddenly looked oh-so-welcoming.
After Kate put the phone down, she took a couple painkillers and slipped back into bed with a grateful sigh.
But she could not sleep. She had too much to think about, and the ache tightening her skull was too bad to let her relax. She lay there for a couple hours, tossing and turning, groaning softly in misery. A little after eleven, she pushed the covers aside and decided to take a shower. Maybe the hot water would ease the pain a bit.
