Page 14 - LSFinalV6Covers

LESS STRESS: MORE YES
The hum intensified. It wasn't the clock. It was
her. Her internal engine revving way too high, idling
on fumes of anxiety and caffeine.
Billie finally dragged herself out of bed. The
floorboards creaked a mournful protest. Just like her
joints. Thirty-eight years old. Felt like sixty some
mornings. The mirror confirmed the suspicion. Dark
circles under her eyes. A faint line etched between her
eyebrows – the permanent furrow of worry.
She splashed cold water on her face. The shock
was momentary. The weariness lingered.
Downstairs, the coffee machine gurgled its
morning song. A small comfort in the chaos. She
poured a mug, black as night, strong enough to
kickstart a dead battery.
Her phone buzzed on the counter. Email. Work.
Already. Before the sun was even fully up.
Subject: URGENT – Project Phoenix Update
Required ASAP.
ASAP. The four most terrifying letters in the
English language. Billie’s stomach clenched. Project
Phoenix. The name sounded grand, like some
mythical rebirth. In reality, it was a logistical
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