ANGER

I frowned, wondering who the woman was, before deciding that being offended by her admonishment would require way too much of my strength. Clearly I was going to need that strength in the face of Mark's unexpected and unprecedented hostility. An alarming thought struck me, and I sat up in a blind panic, ignoring the sudden onslaught of dizziness.

“Passed out at work?” My voice sounded weak, even to my own ears. “Oh no . . . I have to call my boss!” I said, trying to search for my handbag.

“Mark .” The woman placed gentle hands on my shoulders to push me back onto the cot, her lovely eyes brimming with sympathy. “I’m afraid that he wasn’t very sympathetic about any of this. He said something about having had enough of your drama and that you shouldn’t bother coming back. I’m so sorry.”

“Oh no,” I moaned. “No, no. I needed that job!”

“Well if you wanted to keep it, you shouldn’t have gone to work in the condition you were in today, young lady.” A stern voice intruded from the doorway, w