Dear colleagues, Welcome back

The first thing I used to do in the morning when I'd get to work was to cross out the day in my diary - one less day before I'd take off to see my lover.

The first thing I did this morning when I got to work was to adjust my watch according to the clock in the meeting room.

One has to be accurate.

And I sat, and made the necessary gestures.
I nodded through the agenda, made perfunctory notes, asked questions. I got organised, I was efficient.

I also listened to woeful tales of bereaved families - holiday car crashes, terminal illnesses; I thought : how dare I feel sorry for myself?

But this is the way we are.