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1OliviaFor the umpteenth time today, I sneeze
The sound of lares and hard stares froence of the novel coronavirus Some even stick their heads out of their offices and cubicles to peer atthe virus with her s my nose and mouth to prevent the spread of the virus, the dirty looks that are hurled my way send a shudder down my spine and I hurriedly refocus on my work at my desk
I dig my feet into the carpet beneathto the bottoh heels I try to focus on the case file in front of lares fro at this law fir decently with everyone, this pande one another for symptoms
I sigh, glancing at the clock onI have seven hours left until I can go hole with my cats on the couch, and watch the latest art history documentary about the Palace of Versailles in France Tih
While being a paralegal at Disdale Trout is okay, this career wasn’t what I had in mind when I started at the University of Maine Art has always been er, and frustration that any teenager endures, and it evolved into a BA in Fine Arts for iven free rein, and art is h
Legal work is definitely not whaton , stable court case I take pride in doing good work, even if I’m not really interested in the dry, convoluted cases that our law firm takes on sometimes It’s important to be a team player, and even I know that, even if the work itself isn’t exactly exciting
Suddenly, a voice interruptsto avoid Nancy’s burning eyes from across the room?”
I giggle My best friend at work, Petra, sits down at the desk beside h of relief The pretty blonde always kno to put a smile on my face Her ocean blue eyes are incredibly vibrant today, coe button-down shirt paired with black slacks and red heels She winks conspiratorially as she opens a case file and grabs a purple pen from a pink cup on top of her desk
The lawyers hate when Petra uses any other color pen besides black or blue, but Petra insists that those colors are too boring for her Using zany shades is what s her individuality to the table, even if it infuriates the attorneys at the firm But it’s Petra’s inclination to brush the to thules who think they’re better than us
Before I get a chance to reply to her observation, I feel a slight tickle between my eyes Pins and needles shoot down e to scratch the itch as the sensation flows fro sneeze rockswith an abrupt motion as I let the sneeze take overa mask, I still reach up to burrow rips my chair’s ar shut I feel ies when I reopen my eyes
Not only is everyone in the office staring at me with horror, but Petra looks at me ild eyes, worry and concern etched on her face Her blue gaze is shocked, her pen-wielding hand frozen above the papers on her desk, her ape
“Um, as that?” she stutters I pause for a moment
“A sneeze?” I reply, regainingpencil skirt A button onthe process, and nowat work I hurriedly button the shirt and tuck in ainst the tight material, but it’ll have to do for now