September

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Wrapping the parcel, I'm struck with a wave of nausea so strong I have to bolt to the toilet

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Wrapping the parcel, I'm struck with a wave of nausea so strong I have to bolt to the toilet. The scissors clatter to the floor behind me but I don't have time to stop, before I'm throwing up into the loo.

I haven't got time to be ill!

What did I eat last night?

Noodles.

Microwave job. No cause for concern there.

I slump onto the floor, reaching for a baby wipe to clean my mouth. I'm about to clean my teeth when a second wave hits, and I'm doubled over the toilet again.

Urgh.

Some kind of bug then.

Sliding my phone out of my pocket, I realise I have twenty minutes to make it to the parcel drop off before I miss today's collection. I have fourteen parcels to go, and today is the last day I can send them within my promised time frame.

Taking a deep breath, I hoist myself up to clean my mouth. The nausea is still there, but I know there's nothing else left in my stomach. I'll just be retching.

After gargling mouthwash for as long as I can, I finish up the final parcel and head to the parcel shop.

Avi, the woman who works at the shop taps her watch when she sees me lugging the parcels towards her. She has a baby on her hip, and a toddler clinging to her legs. All three stare up at me with wide brown eyes, and I can't help but smile.

"I'll get Raj. Raj!" Avi calls out, as a mop of midnight hair pops up from the back of the shop. "Can you help Jolie? She has many parcels today and the man will be here in five minutes," she tuts as he complains, but he nods at her regardless. "You look pale."

I realise she is talking to me.

"What? Oh, I'm okay," I force a smile, keeping my distance from her and the kids. I'm emptying parcels out of my giant bag with Raj, when I feel sick again.

"I just feel a little off today," I confess, as Raj eyes me suspiciously.

"Off?" Avi presses, peering at me.

"Yeah. I think maybe I ate something funny," I lie, not wanting the mother of two to worry I'm passing illnesses onto her kids.

"Ah. Sickness? We have ginger biscuits?" Avi suggests, nodding at Raj again.

He rolls his eyes before trudging back to grab me a packet.

"They'll help," Avi announces.

I'd been dropping my parcels off here for the past two years, and Avi & Raj have become more friends than shopkeepers, with Avi insisting Raj helps me with my parcels, offering me freebies along the way.

Like now.

"The new Dairy Milk has arrived. Do you like gingerbread? I'll give you one, if you like it, come back. Buy more."

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