I sat at my desk late on Friday afternoon, exhausted and in some pain. The dull throbbing in my jawbone had been going on for almost three days, and I knew I had to do something about it.
As colleagues around me started packing up to go home for the weekend, I quickly Googled the practice of the dentist I've been to a few times in the last couple of years, Dr Holland. He's nice, quite gentle and understanding, seems like a middle-aged family man.
I called the number.
"Doctor Holland's rooms, good afternoon, Felicity speaking."
"Hi Felicity. It's Shara here. I know it's late, but I was wondering if there's any chance at all that Doctor Holland can see me this afternoon?"
"Hi Shara. I'm afraid it's unlikely, he's busy with his last patient for the week. How about Monday?"
There was silence on the line as I contemplated the weekend ahead, and this ache that I'd been irresponsible about seeing to so far. It was my own fault. I should take better care of myself, I know.
"Shara? Are you there?"
"Yes, sorry Felicity, I was thinking. Okay... could I ask you to ask Doctor Holland if, as a huge favour, he could see me after his last patient? I'm not sure if I'll survive the pain this weekend."
"It's unlikely, Shara, but please hold while I check with him."
Felicity put me on hold and some violin music took over for a few minutes. I multi-tasked, closing down some spreadsheets and Word documents, and packing my cellphone and empty lunchbox into my handbag.
"Shara?" Felicity was back on the line.
"You're in luck! Doctor Holland says he'll see you if you can get here by 5 o'clock."
"Yay! Thank you so much. Please thank Doctor Holland. I'll drive across straight away!"
As I drove across town anxiety started to grip me. I've been the dentist perhaps once every two or three years my whole life, and it's always been stressful for me.
I pulled up outside Doctor Holland's offices at about 5 minutes past 5 o'clock, locked my car and raced up the stairs. The receptionist was closing the blinds and turning the lights off, and she smiled at me as I ran into the waiting room.
"Shara! You're just in time. You can go through."
"Thanks, Felicity. I'm so grateful to you for fitting me in."
Just then Doctor Holland walked out of his consulting room, wearing white pants, an unbuttoned white coat, with a navy blue shirt. "Good night Felicity," he said. "Have a great weekend, and see you on Monday."