Your colleague at work seems like an allergic mess, especially in the mornings. Their sinuses always look full and swollen, there’s constant congestion in their voice. You often notice their eyes are glassy or watery. More evidence? Not a day goes by where you haven’t heard them let out at least one desperate itchy harsh sneeze, which is almost always followed by unrestrained blowing that goes on for so long it makes you wonder how all that can fit in one nose.
So, yes! It’s safe to say that you’re suspicious they have some sort of allergies…
However, you can’t figure out the reason why they’re so horribly allergic every day. So far you’ve noted it’s not seasonal, nor triggered by your perfume. Even more puzzling, despite the fact they sound and look to be constantly impacted by allergies, they are able manage their symptoms well. For example they only sneeze once or twice max in a row, and stop even when they look like they need a dozen more. Other days they spend all day sniffling and rubbing at their reddening nose, yet barely sneeze!!
Maybe they just take strong meds every day? You think. Or maybe I’m not in enough meetings with them to notice?!
That’s until one day you do end up working closer with them when they’re transferred to your team.
Today it’s a work from home day. They join the call. It’s your first time seeing them in more casual wear. They have scruffier hair, a reddened nose, and a dozy smile. Their eyes red and watery. Do they somehow look more allergic than usual?!
They un-mute to say hello, the thick congestion unmistakable, even from one word! Are they okay? you wonder. Then again, no one who works with them regularly seems phased or asks if they’re ok.
15 minutes pass, and the call has sadly been more un eventful than you had hoped (except some obvious, but muted nose blows).
Until now, it’s their time to present their slides. Mid way through their first sentence you see a cat jump up onto their desk and prowl up and down. They chuckle, “oh dear, hold on guys…Say hello to trouble… she’s the source of all my problems but I love that girl” the cat jumps down as they laugh again.
As they continue to speak, you notice they’re taking more frequent pauses to snort and sniffle and fuss over their nose. They even mute to blow. Not a minute later, the cat jumps back up, this time onto their lap. They smile. But it was at this moment you notice the damage the cat was causing. As you watch them talk, their nostrils widen, twitching and bucking. They stammer through sentences and you know they desperately, desperately need to sneeze… but WOW they are determined to get through this presentation!
You can hear the pre sneeze desperation as they attempt to talk. It morphs each word, elongating their vowels “the graaaaa… g.. graph shows” and consonants are repeated “a d.. d … d.. di… direct.. aahhh…ahh .. affect”
They push the cat down off their lap. Is this their attempt at taming their reaction? You think, noting the white cat hairs clinging to their black fluffy jumper.
They clear their voice. Incredibly they manage keep talking, but it’s not long until they’re stuttering and stammering, this time through every. single. word. Their voice trails off, they clamp their nose shut and rub it.. “s… saaahhh… so…. So… sorr-AHHH!! Sorry!!!” an ear splitting, sharp inhale bursts out of them before they turn their head for their first roaring sneeze “AHHHHH…HHAAAAATTSCHOO”.
They turn back to the camera, a shy embarrassed smile fills their face as they adjust their glasses. Without warning, another SHARP LOUD INHALE and roaring double…”AAAH- HAAATTTIISCCHHOOOO!! HARRRRSSCCHOO!!”.
A beat passes before the say “wheewww, where was I now?” but you can tell they’re not done. Their brows are furrowed, concentrating hard on keeping the next sneeze at bay… betrayed, they involuntarily hitch. They’re frozen, eyes squinting, nose scrunched... they rub their nose, but it’s no good. HEHHH… haaahhh… AAHHH .. a loud “RRAAASSSSHHHOO!!”, followed by a deep congested sniffle, which only goes onto cause a deep guttural inhale before a loud visibly wet triple “AAAHHH… HAAARRRSSSHHHH!! AAAAATTTSSCHOO!! AAAAAAATTSCHO!!”
“Sorry team” they breathe out quickly. They fumble for a tissue as they stand up. You hear one more muffled “AAHHH RAAASSSSSHHHOO!” straight into a ferocious nose blow as they walk out the room.
After a beat a teammate picks where they left off. No reactions from anyone… except you who’s heart is pounding!
When they return, they appear on the screen with a tissue firmly pressed to their nose. This time they’re muted but you notice them sneezing periodically. The only time they move the tissue is after a sneeze to replace the old tissue with a new. That or to place the cat far away from them.
The meetings ends and between everyone’s goodbyes, you hear him say “I’m so sorry guys, usually the cat stays downstairs … aaaahh… hahhhh… HHHAATTSSCCHO!!!”
you unmute to bless them.
Turns out the poor thing LIVES with their worst allergy! That itchy allergic state of being at work is them when getting respite 😅