FIVE

Around lunchtime, I get an email from Elias, replying to the last email Rosie had sent yesterday rather than my follow-up.

Can do 3pm today?

As I’m typing a reply, something comes in from Rosie.

Sorry, meeting external agency then. 10am tomorrow?

And then as I’m typing a reply to that, another email comes through from Elias.

Can’t do that. When can you do? I can do tomorrow afternoon.

There’s silence for a few hours. Then, at 4pm, an email comes in: it’s from Rosie.

Sorry, misread your email! I thought you said 3pm tomorrow! I could have done today at 3, but I can’t do tomorrow 3. Friday morning?

I leave my desk, buy myself a large mocha, and walk around the block until I’m certain I can be around other people without screaming at them.