Scheduled Send

Monday

Victoria Atkins <v.atkins@tgacademy.org> 9 Jun 2025, 07:00

to Melanie, Lucy

Dear Melanie,

Please accept my apologies, but I will not be in work today.

I am aware that I should be calling in, but I am unable to do so this morning as I have woken up with no voice!

I have uploaded my lessons to the cover drive and I hope to be in tomorrow.

Apologies for the inconvenience.

Kind regards,

Victoria

_________________________________________

Lucy (7:32): Hey! I’ve just seen your email. Hope you’re OK? Feel better soon!

Ali (8:02): Just seen you’re not in today. Boo! Going to miss you. Hope you feel better soon so you can stop abandoning me! X

Meena (8:07): Sad you’re not in today! Missing training - lucky you! X

_________________________________________

Notifications buzz and flash, briefly illuminating the dark room.

She doesn’t stir.

The phone is plugged into the wall on the bedside table, out of reach from her hand. Her laptop lies on the dresser, closed; it is plugged in too, to ensure the email delivered this morning as planned.

In the closed laptop, emails from the day begin to pour through.

She doesn’t stir.

_________________________________________

Lucy (16:26): Hey. How are you feeling? No rush - just come back when you’re ready. Maybe some honey and tea will help!

Ali (16:33): Missed you today. Can’t believe you made me sit through training on my own. I almost fell asleep! Hope you’re feeling better? X

Meena (16:34): You should have heard our favourite person in training today - she would NOT stop talking! I thought you would be able to feel my eye rolls all the way from home x

Victoria to ‘Work chat!’ (17:00): Hi guys! Sorry I wasn’t there today. Feeling so rough. Been asleep all day. I hope training wasn’t too torturous! Hoping to be in tomorrow. Going to sleep some more! X

Ali to ‘Work chat!’ (17:03): Sounds like heaven! Bless you. Don’t worry - you didn’t miss much! Rest up x

Lucy to ‘Work chat!’ (17:05): Didn’t enjoy ‘learning how to learn’, Ali? Sounds awful, Vic. Make sure you look after yourself. Are you going to get a doctor’s appointment?

Meena to ‘Work chat!’ (17:06): Yes, rest up so you can get back to work! Or make me ill so I can be off with you? Happy either way!

_________________________________________

Melanie Abassi <m.abassi@tgacademy.org> 9 Jun 2025, 17:02

to Victoria

Dear Victoria,

Thank you for your email.

Please contact tomorrow if you are still unable to come in.

Regards,

Melanie

_________________________________________

Tuesday

Victoria Atkins <v.atkins@tgacademy.org> 10 Jun 2025, 07:00

to Melanie, Lucy

Dear Melanie,

Please accept my apologies again, but my throat is worse today.

I am going to try to see my GP. Hopefully they can give me something.

My lessons have been uploaded.

Kind regards,

Victoria

_________________________________________

The drone of early morning traffic seeps through the window that’s been left open to let some air in. Children shouting on their way to school, dogs yapping in front gardens at anyone who dares pass by, and the bin lorry whirring as it does the rounds. Outside, people are laughing, chatting, and fretting through their daily routines.

Above the indistinctive hum of noise, a sharp cry breaks through, and there’s a crash of metal on asphalt. A child’s cry; a young girl falling from her bike. Briefly, the monotonous hum is disrupted by worried shouts from a parent and mocking laughter from peers.

Eventually they move beyond the reach of the open window.

_________________________________________

Ali (16:32): So, no pressure but you need to come back now. I took your year 7s today. It’s safe to say I’m traumatised. Never again! x

Lucy (17:32): Hey! Did you manage to see your GP today? I hope they were able to give you something!

Meena (18:34): Guess who actually went to the gym today… I am in agony! How are you feeling? Still no voice? x

_________________________________________

Victoria (19:00): Hey mum. Sorry I know we normally call on a Tuesday, but I’ve completely lost my voice! I’ve been off work. I’ll call when I can. Hope you’re ok. Love you.

Mum (19:04): Hello darling. Oh dear! Make sure you look after yourself. You work too hard! Make sure you have plenty of tea and honey. How was your appointment on Saturday? Love you x

_________________________________________

Wednesday

Victoria Atkins <v.atkins@tgacademy.org> 11 Jun 2025, 07:00

to Melanie, Lucy

Dear Melanie,

Apologies, I will not be in again today.

I wasn’t able to see my GP yesterday.

I will try again today.

Lessons are uploaded.

Regards,

Victoria

_________________________________________

Emile Nicolai <emile.nicolai@gmail.co.uk> 11 Jun 2025, 07:34

to Victoria

Dear Victoria,

I hope you are well.

I am checking in again following your missed appointment on Saturday.

I have tried to call, but there was no response.

If face-to-face appointments are too much for you at the moment, we can arrange an online appointment. I do think it is important that we catch up, following your request for an additional appointment.

Will you be able to make our normal Thursday appointment?

All the best,

Emile

_________________________________________

Lucy (08:07): Hi Victoria. Sorry to message you - I’m sure you’re resting! Melanie is being a bit funny about you not calling in. I don’t want to stress you out, but if you can get an appointment and a doctor’s note today, that would really help. You know what she can be like! I hope you feel better soon.

_________________________________________

Sunlight peeks through a crack in the curtains. Despite the open window, the room is beginning to smell musty and stale.

Heat from the phone and laptop that remain plugged into the wall warms the room.

The phone lights up once more, vibrating against the small cardboard boxes littered on bedside table.

She doesn’t stir.

________________________________________________________________________________________

Thursday

Mum (06:34): You missed calls from me at 06:32 and 06:24 12 June.

Mum (06:35): Hi honey, I know you said you can’t talk, but I’ve had a call from your therapist. She’s worried about you, said she doesn’t usually call emergency contacts unless it’s urgent. Are you okay? I can come round after work if you need me to look after you. Text me when you can. Love you x

_________________________________________

Victoria Atkins <v.atkins@tgacademy.org> 12 Jun 2025, 07:00

to Melanie, Lucy

Dear Melanie,

Apologies, I will not be in again.

I have an appointment today.

Lessons are uploaded.

Regards,

Victoria

_________________________________________

Ali (16:02): Hey. Starting to worry about you now. Have you moved to Spain or something?! Let us know if you need anything x

Meena (16:16): Lucy said Melanie’s being a pain. Why can’t she just be a nice human? You must be really ill! Never known you to take a day off, let alone 4! Do you need supplies? x

_________________________________________

First, the doorbell rings, followed by a sharp knock on the door. The worry in her mum’s voice is apparent, even from outside. Her mum shouts at the door, urging a response and trying to control her shaking. This isn’t the first time Victoria has gone silent like this, but when it had happened before, she had been living at home. Her mum was there to check in.

She pulls out her phone and tries calling again. The phone rings and rings and rings. No response.

Upstairs, the phone vibrates and illuminates.

She doesn't stir.

Victoria’s mum notices the open window and shouts up.

From the pavement, parents and children on their way to school look over at the shouting woman. They stare at her, then look at each other. She must be mad - shouting up at a window like that.

Some children stop, ignorant of the social conventions that prohibit such behaviour. They are aware enough, though, to cover their whispers with their hand as they lean into their friend’s ear. Parents grab their children’s hands and pull them along, back to their daily routine, but they continue to whisper and turn to stare at the woman at the door.

Victoria’s mum is ignorant of their stares and whispers. Her shouts get louder and she knocks on the door so hard it hurts her knuckles.

Upstairs, she doesn’t stir.

_________________________________________

Friday

Victoria Atkins <v.atkins@tgacademy.org> 13 Jun 2025, 07:00

to Melanie, Lucy

Dear Melanie,

Please accept my apologies, but I will not be returning to work.

I apologise for the inconvenience.

Kind regards,

Victoria

_________________________________________

Victoria (7:00) Mum, I’m sorry. I know this will hurt you, but I can’t keep trying - I’m so tired. I tried so hard, I promise. I’m sorry to disappoint you. I just need to sleep. I think things will be better if I can just sleep. Then all the noise will stop. Please remember that I love you. Love from your Victoria x