[ WP ] You discover a pill that paralyzes you for the next 12 hours . Curiosity leads you to try it in the comfort of your house . You take the pill and drink a glass of water as you proceed to lie on your bed ... .

A train rolled in seven minutes late. A man, whose face had the deflated, lined look of a balloon that had been slowly losing air all day, repeatedly punched the button to open the doors. They opened after a few more seconds. He filtered through the crowed with an irritated brisk walk. A pram rolled away from a mother as he brushed past, a tourist ’ s suitcase toppled over. After bleeping through the barriers, he loosened his tie and trod the same walk home. It had been a shit day. 
 
 
 A phone buzzed within his pocket. Slowly, the man resigned himself to it and slid his finger across the screen. 
 
 
 “ Hello? ” 
 
 
 “ Mitch, ” it was his boss, “ whatever case you made to the pharma company didn ’ t work. They ’ re pressing on with the cease and desist, I just got off the phone with the palliative care lot. ” 
 
 
 “ Bollocks. ” A deadpan reply. 
 
 
 “ And the partner meeting is at seven tomorrow now, not eight. Pharma ’ s coming in then for another settlement meeting. This case could bankrupt us, so we may need to think about pursuing other lines of argument. ” 
 
 
 “ Alright, I ’ ll sleep on it. Bye. ” 
 
 
 The balloon popped, and his face fell. Replacing the phone, his fingers briefly clasped a glass vial. He took it out. Inside was a single pill. The transparent casing played with the setting sun behind, turning the pink granules within a deep crimson. He sank it back into his pocket. Not tonight. Tomorrow was too important he thought, as the shuffle home continued. 
 
 
 Mitchell had barely reached the next junction when his phone rang again. He did not bother answering this time, no doubt Dana had had a brainwave on “ other lines of argument. ” She could wait until he ’ d had a cup of tea. 
 
 
 His own voice spoke from the pocket, “ …and I ’ ll get back to you as soon as is convenient. ” *Beep*. A female voice began, but not Dana ’ s. 
 
 
 “ Hey Mitch, it ’ s me… ” She trailed off. “ Look, I was just thinking about how we left things and like… ” her words slipped away again. “ I just think we need to talk, and the longer we delay the wedding, the worse it ’ s going to feel, so please call back tonight? ” She paused for less than a moment. “ Love you, bye. ” 
 
 
 He sighed. The phone buzzed again, but more briefly this time. He reached into his pocket. Smooth, round glass for a second, then cold metal. 
 
 
 *1 voicemail: Ell* 
 
 *1 Messenger: Dana: call ASAP, got pharma plan. can use patent funds* 
 
 
 His keys ground in the locks that would need replacing soon. The fridge was empty, except for a Tesco Value mac and cheese which he tossed in the microwave without piercing the film. A dull ache began to drum behind his right eye as he slumped on the threadbare sofa in the kitchen. 
 
 
 He woke up half an hour later at the request of his vibrating phone. Smooth glass. 
 
 
 *2 voicemails: Ell, Dana* 
 
 *5 Messenger: Ell, Ell, Dana, Dana, Ell* 
 
 The mac and cheese had gone cold in the microwave, a film of scum now on top. Flecks of cheese that had exploded out had dried on the walls of the microwave. Mitch tossed it into the bin unopened and poured a glass of water. Standing up made him wince in pain that had now spread to the back of his head. He walked to the bedroom and fell into bed. 
 
 
 Now that he ’ d been asleep he could not get comfortable again. He fished the lip balm out of his pocket, tossed it onto the floor, and rolled over. Seconds later, his phone vibrated again and he threw it at the headboard where it fell. Smooth glass. He rolled over again. And again. 
 
 
 Finally, he took out the small vial in his pocket. The pinks inside were desaturated in the darkness, a dull grey now. Tired, in pain, and dreading the next day he fumbled the lid off. Mitch swallowed the pill, drank the water and lay back. 
 
 
 The discomfort was replaced by numbness. It began in his mouth and crashed over him, getting stronger with each wave of paralysis. Soon, he was weightless on the covers he could not feel. It was as if he had fallen into bed and not stopped. A new discomfort began. His left eye started to drum in time with his right, his head a floating sensation of pain. Next to his head, just within his peripheral vision, his phone vibrated and flashed. Wide awake now, he lay back. 

