Thirty-Two

VALERIA

My head ached, but when I shifted slightly in bed, I realized that my entire body ached as well. I felt like I had run over by a steamroller and put back together again. With a groan, I opened my eyes. I squinted at the little sunlight filtering through my open window. I shut my eyes again because they hurt too. It felt like they had been taken out of my head, hit with a blunt hammer and then shoved back into my skull again. My clock chimed the top of the hour. If I didn't get a move on, I would be late for work. I had never felt less like moving, but I didn't want to stay cooped up in the house all day.

With a little struggle, I got out of bed and began preparing for work. I was very careful not to make any sudden movements, so as not to increase the aches and pains ravaging my body. To my relief, by the time I had gotten dressed, the pain had subsided to the extent that I could function. Just before I left the house, Ellen called. I was only just about ten minutes late so sh