[ WP ] Humanity is semi-immortal , regenerating from violent death the next day . You died in a particularly embarrassing way , and now have to face your coworkers/schoolmates/family the following morning .

They alternate getting each other coffee ( thank God for that, Amanda's not sure if she'd be able to make eye contact with anyone at this point, let alone David ), and she's already in the office when he arrives, toting two Starbucks cups. She does n't look away from her screen as he comes up behind her, after setting his own coffee on his desk. 
 
 `` So.'' He carefully sets the cup next to her elbow. `` Um. Good morning.'' 
 
 Amanda takes it without turning to look at him. `` Morning.'' 
 
 He settles behind his desk and she returns her focus to the The silence that follows is perhaps the second-most awkward experience of either of their lives, Amanda thinks, after the multitude of times she had called college professors Mom or Dad, which she thinks of collectively. The two of them have shared this office for six years, been friends for twice as long as that, and usually have an easy, running conversation between them in the mornings and the evenings, when they're settling into the day and are n't too preoccupied. This morning, there's nothing. 
 
 When David next speaks, she assumes that he's trying to ask `` How was your weekend?'' He only makes it halfway through the sentence before bursting out laughing. 
 
 She speaks without thinking. `` It could've happened on a Monday, you know. It could've been in this building. It could've been this elevator shaft. And then I would've had to report it to HR and they would've had to raid the re-gen insurance to pay back the hospital.'' She takes a sip, still not turning to look at him. `` Now it's just my personal re-gen insurance. Not the company's.'' 
 
 David finally settles down enough to speak somewhat normally. `` Wait. S-so it's true?'' 
 
 Amanda's blood runs cold. `` What?'' 
 
 `` That you actually fell down an --'' 
 
 `` I swear it's not... 
 
 `` It sounds like something out of a damn soap opera. I mean, an *elevator shaft*? Really,'Manda?'' 
 
 `` I swear that it's not as embarrassing as it --'' 
 
 `` Soap. Opera,'' he repeats. `` Jesus Christ.'' He dissolves into peals of laughter again, and Amanda squeezes the bridge of her nose and thinks, *happy Monday. * 
 
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