"I'll be back from Monday." | Essay

"I'll be back from Monday."

I have made this phone call to my boss many times.
After returning from leave, after maternity leave, after two surgeries, and after being hospitalized for hyperemesis gravidarum.

I have never thought of my body as weak,
but for some reason, illness always seems to strike my weakest points.

The cause of my poor health this time was apparently my "ears."
With my extremely weak semicircular canals (even at full HP, they're about a 3), I was completely unable to cope.

It seems there is no effective way to deal with this, either.

Will it come again someday?
Thinking about that makes me feel a little depressed.

Nausea with even the slightest turn in bed.
Looking at my phone, listening to music, reading a book—everything just spins around.

I couldn't do anything. I had no choice but to sleep.

Our living room has an atrium,
and a catwalk connects it to the bedroom on the second floor. Voices from the living room can be heard clearly through the cat door in the bedroom.

"We're going to turn these plums into juice, you know."
"I'm going to help too!"

The clear, ringing laughter of my son, heard in a slumber where I couldn't tell if I was dreaming or awake, was comforting.

Every now and then, I am enveloped by the soft, sweet scent of plums.
The plums ripening by the window seem to be saying, "Hurry, hurry."

Five days spent just sleeping.
Even though it was only five days.

The soft morning sunlight
The freshness of the air outside
The sensation of the shower water
The sound of cars driving on the road

Everything feels a little different than before.
I feel like I'm the only one left behind in the past.

A monochrome me in a colorful world.

Ah, how many times have I felt this way?
It's the same even when I'm not working, isn't it.

This morning, for the first time in a while, I made my son's lunch.
My heart feels a little clearer.

By next week, I'm sure I'll be back to my usual self.

When I opened note for the first time in a while, I received this notification.

Even while I was bedridden, there were people coming to read my work.
While I'm very happy, I also feel sorry that I haven't been able to go read yours.

For my dull status update article the other day as well,
I received many likes,
and I am filled with gratitude.

Thank you so much for always coming to read.

I'll be back from Monday.
I look forward to your continued support🌱