Chapter One — Before Lockdown

Millie - Weight: 70.0 kg (11 st 0 lb)
Fitness: Good
Age: 26

Millie had never been particularly concerned about her weight. She was conscious of her appearance, certainly-she enjoyed clothes, liked looking sharp and put-together at work, and had never been shy about showing off a figure she felt confident in. But strict diets, counting every calorie, and weighing out meals? That simply wasn't who she was. She preferred enjoying life and the food that came with it.
Whenever the subject of her health or fitness habits came up, she had a ready defense, pointing out that her demanding job at the spa kept her more than active enough. Millie possessed a remarkably high work ethic, routinely pushing through an average of ten intensive massage treatments a day, followed by the relentless physical labor of washing towels, tidying treatment rooms, and deep-cleaning her space.
"That's your excuse for everything," Lauren said, shaking her head as they sat together across the staff-room table.
Millie looked up, feigning innocence. "What is?"
"You're always saying you're active because you're a massage therapist."
"I am active."
"You stand up."
"I move around," Millie countered, leaning forward.
"You walk between treatment rooms."
"Exactly."
Lauren laughed, tossing a balled-up paper napkin at her. Millie just grinned and took another sip of her coffee.
The two women had become inseparable since Millie joined the spa, forming the classic dynamic of work sisters. They were complete opposites in almost every way: Lauren was naturally slim, mindful of what she ate, and far more disciplined about sticking to an exercise routine. Millie, on the other hand, was much more relaxed and a lot less disciplined.
"You're still saying you're going running tonight?" Lauren asked, raising a skeptical eyebrow.
"Yes," Millie replied firmly.
"You said that yesterday."
"I was busy yesterday."
"And the day before."
"Also busy," Millie insisted without missing a beat.
"What about Saturday?"
Millie paused for a split second. "I was socially busy."
Lauren burst out laughing. "You're never going running."
"I will."
"When?"
"Tomorrow."
Lauren gave her a look that said everything. "Of course."
Millie smiled, knowing Lauren was right. She had every intention of exercising more in theory, but she possessed a remarkable, almost supernatural ability to find something far more interesting-and comfortable-to do instead.
Millie genuinely loved her job. She took pride in being a massage therapist, enjoyed meeting a wide variety of clients, and thrived in the calm, pleasant atmosphere of the spa. She also liked the uniform. It was fitted and professional without being uncomfortable, and Millie wore it with total confidence.
One of the other therapists had once joked that Millie spent more time checking herself out in the changing-room mirror than she did actually changing into her work clothes. Millie hadn't even tried to deny it, simply replying, "Why wouldn't I?"
That was quintessential Millie: confident, outgoing, a little cheeky, and completely comfortable with people noticing her.
Lauren sometimes teased her about it during their breaks. "You really do love showing yourself off."
"What's wrong with that?"
"Nothing."
"Exactly." Millie would flash a confident smile at her own reflection. "Besides, I've got nothing to hide."
Lauren would just shake her head, smiling. "You're impossible."
The morning passed routinely. Millie completed her scheduled appointments with her usual professionalism, chatted effortlessly with clients, and filled the gaps between treatments gossiping with Lauren and the rest of the staff.
Shortly before lunchtime, Kelly wandered into the staff room. Known around the spa for her blunt, no-nonsense attitude, she didn't bother with small talk.
"Millie," Kelly said, leaning against the doorframe.
"Yes?"
"Are you actually going running tonight?"
Millie let out an exaggerated sigh. "Why is everyone utterly obsessed with my workout schedule?"
"Because you've been promising you'll start for three weeks."
"That is a massive exaggeration."
"Two weeks, then."
"Still an exaggeration," Millie muttered defensively.
Kelly smiled knowingly. "You won't go."
"I will."
"Tomorrow?"
"Yes."
Lauren burst out laughing from across the table. Millie pointed a warning finger at her. "You two are horrible."
"You're the one making the promises you can't keep," Lauren pointed out.
Millie stood up, smoothing down her uniform with theatrical flair. "Fine. I'll prove both of you wrong."
Kelly crossed her arms. "Photographic evidence or it didn't happen."
"Deal."
Millie walked out of the room with a confident smirk. Lauren waited until the heavy door clicked shut behind her.
"She isn't going," Lauren said quietly.
Kelly nodded. "No chance."
Neither of them had any way of knowing how much that trivial lunchtime argument would eventually matter.
That very afternoon, however, the atmosphere shifted entirely.
For weeks, the news reports had been growing more serious. The coronavirus had transitioned from a distant topic discussed on television news to an encroaching reality beginning to disrupt everyday life. The spa had already stepped up its cleaning protocols, and hushed conversations about cancelling client bookings filled the corridors. Nobody knew precisely what was coming, but everyone could feel the tension in the air.
Then Sarah, the spa manager, called an emergency team meeting. The normally boisterous staff room fell dead silent as everyone turned to look at her. Sarah stood at the front of the room, her expression grim.
"I've just had confirmation from corporate management," Sarah announced, looking around the circle of employees.
Millie felt a sudden, cold drop in her stomach.
"The spa is closing. Effective immediately."
An uncomfortable silence descended over the room. Nobody spoke for a long moment until someone finally asked, "How long for?"
"We don't know yet."
"Days?"
"Possibly."
"Weeks?"
Sarah offered a hesitant nod. "It's entirely possible."
Millie turned her head to look at Lauren. Lauren looked right back at her, her eyes wide with disbelief. The carefree confidence that usually defined Millie's expression had completely vanished.
"So what are we supposed to do?" Millie asked, her voice uncharacteristically small.
"Go home," Sarah instructed gently. "We'll keep everyone updated as soon as we know more."
Millie nodded slowly, the words echoing in her mind. Go home. It sounded simple, almost like an unexpected holiday or a couple of weeks off to catch up on sleep. Then everything would inevitably return to normal.
Outside in the car park, the spring air was crisp. Millie stood beside her car, staring blankly at Lauren.
"I genuinely can't believe this," Millie whispered.
"I know," Lauren replied, hugging her arms against the chill. "What are you even going to do with yourself?"
Lauren offered a slight, knowing smile to break the tension. "Well, maybe you can finally go running now."
Millie laughed, shaking her head. "Very funny."
"I'm serious. You've got all the time in the world."
"Fine. I'll probably become incredibly fit," Millie retorted, crossing her arms.
Lauren raised an eyebrow. "You?"
"Yes, me. During lockdown."
"Absolutely not."
Millie flashed her trademark confident smile. "I'll come back here fitter and healthier than ever."
Lauren laughed, holding out a hand. "I'll hold you to that. Deal?"
Millie shook her hand firmly. "Deal."
She climbed into her car and drove home, firmly believing that she would be back at work within a fortnight. She believed she'd spend the unexpected downtime exercising, eating sensibly, and maintaining her lifestyle. Most importantly, she believed that nothing about her body, her routine, or her life was truly going to change.
She was entirely wrong.