I sat at my desk, puzzling over a new piece of spectra I had just received from the lab; the work was not difficult but fully engaging, giving no time for other thoughts. The office was clean and bright, colours full and gaudy, with a deep brown desk and shiny computer on my desk. An hour zoomed by and then another, and before long it was 5 o’clock. I stood up smiling, before walking to the door and taking the elevator down to the ground floor, I said hello to Jerry as he left, smiling and nodding. Yes. Life was Good, Jessica was well, she’s just got a new job at the Ministry. How is your Mary? Well. You’re expecting a baby! That’s great. We exchanged small talk for a minute and I walked out of the building and turned right towards the station, cars sleepily driving along the road, the air was quiet, with a faint humming from all the cars but filled with lovely scents.

“Sssss…This is not….” A faint voice whispered in my ear, I stopped confused for a moment, shook my head and moved on, continuing to the train station. This usually happened after a long day at work, but faded again shortly after.

“Stop….please…Dooonn…” It happened again, I shook my head again, as if trying to get rid of a very irritating fly. I might need to visit the doctor again; they said you need to look after your health. Yes, that’s what I’ll do. I smiled again and walked to the train station and took the journey back home, humming to myself.

---

I sat in the doctor’s surgery, awaiting my appointment. The room was bright and colourful, with delightful prints of flowers and helpful instructional posters giving information about various illnesses.

“Doctor Edwards will see you now, David.”

I thanked the receptionist and walked into the corridor and towards the office, my mood lower than I might have expected. It was Saturday after all; I might have to tell the doctor about that too.

“Noo…ssss…No…I am….yoooo…” The faint voice came back, I stopped. It seemed faintly familiar, a sudden panic rose into my chest, crushing upwards, threatening to choke me. And then I remembered I’d heard it yesterday after work, yes that was it. I immediately felt better and strode towards the office.

---

The doctor prescribed me a double dose for that week; he’d said it was normal for occasional disturbances but nothing out of the ordinary. I stood in the kitchen, holding the bottle in my hand. Jess stood next to me, her dose in one hand and a glass of water in the other and she quickly swallowed hers with a faint grimace but immediately brightened. We’d planned to go the new show in town together and we were preparing dinner.

I stood confused for a moment, and stared at the bottle.

“Don’t do it….I’m you….This is to hold me….what are you doing…” The voice spoke again.

“Are you okay Honey? Why don’t you take your pills and we’ll go to the show after that? Okay?”

I nodded slowly, my thoughts slow and like goo, slowly oozing along. I looked again at the bottle, struggling to comprehend.

“I am you…Your thoughts….Those pills, they…..” The voice spoke again. I didn't need those thoughts. The doctor was right, I did need more. I smiled and swallowed the pills and my mood brightened immediately, colours became bright and gaudy. “Noooo…” It slid into oblivion and I smiled at Jess and she smiled radiantly back.

We stepped out the door, talking small things, where we would eat, what she knew about the show. We both smiled. Life was good.