I'm Fine

She didn't see me as I quickly backed back around the corner I'd just come around, only to peer back around.
She was crouched, one hand on the shelf, a pile of packages of rice spread around her. She hardly looked like she was breathing as she had one hand covering her eyes.
As I watched, she took a deep breath and lifted her head away from a hand that trembled slightly before she straightened to continue stocking the shelves.
Only for her to pause again thirty seconds later as she swayed.

I couldn't believe it. Jazz...it seemed like Jazz was sick.
I'd heard the stories from the other coworkers that Jazz was like Superwoman. She always came to work. Always finished her shifts. Never called off. Was always willing to cover another coworker.
But here she was....obviously not well.
I frowned, as she perked up when a customer approached her asking a question about a price. Now it looked like she was perfectly fine. Healthy.
But what I'd seen just moments before, told me otherwise.

"Hey, Jazz. You alright?" I asked coming around the corner once the other customer had left and she'd returned to the shelves.
She looked at me, raising an eyebrow, the act in full force though I could see the exhaustion lingering in her eyes. "Yah? You need something Paul?" She swallowed, the faint color in her skin fading away.
"No...but...I think you need to go sit down."
She frowned. "I'm fine."
"...I...you don't look fine." I said finally.
She smiled, bright and amused at me. "I'll be fine." she reassured. "Just a couple more hours and I'll be able to go home. I'll be fine."
I exhaled and nodded. "Just...don't work yourself too hard okay? Take a break if you need to."
She chuckled at that returning her attention to the shelves. "Sure, sure."
I knew she wouldn't. The fact that she continued to work even though she wasn't feeling well already proved that. I'd never wished for two hours to pass by faster, if only for her sake.

-Inspiration from not feeling well at work.