Chapter 10: Coverage

Part 1: Distress

Click here to start at Chapter One

Milo and Finley sit at their desks in the shared office. Finley types on his laptop while Milo, gazes at his, mildly startled. Finley: “Milo, may I borrow…” Finley looks over at Milo and freezes. Milo has turned green. Finley recoils in alarm, eyes wide and mouth open. Finley: “GASP!” Milo looks at him with shocked concern. Milo: “Are you okay?” Fully green, Milo rushes out of the office while Finley remains frozen in shock. Milo: “I’ll go get Donna!

Transcript

Panel 1
Milo and Finley sit at their desks in the shared office. Finley types on his laptop while Milo, gazes at his, mildly startled.

Finley: “Milo, may I borrow…”

Panel 2
Finley looks over at Milo and freezes. Milo has turned green.

Panel 3
Finley recoils in alarm, eyes wide and mouth open.

Finley: “GASP!”

Milo looks at him with shocked concern.

Milo: “Are you okay?”

Panel 4
Fully green, Milo rushes out of the office while Finley remains frozen in shock.

Milo: “I’ll go get Donna!”

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CHAPTERS

Distress
Posted on August 5, 2026 by donnalake

Cartoon portrait of Donna Lake with short hair, purple glasses, and a lavender sprig beside her name deskplate

From Donna's Desk:

There are people who focus outward so naturally that they can miss their own dashboard lights. They notice the tremor in someone else’s voice, the weird look across the room, the person who needs reassurance.

 

Meanwhile, they are actively turning the color of aged guacamole.

 

It is a lovely instinct, and a risky one.

 

Caring for others should not require abandoning your own status report.

 

So I’m curious:

 

Have you ever been so focused on someone else (or everyone else) that you missed your own warning signs?

 

Who or what reminds you to check in with yourself?

 

And how do you let care move both directions?

 

I’ll be here, making sure the helper gets helped.

Donna

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

2 thoughts on “Distress”

  1. Kem Todd

    Came here to find out why Milo turned Green, thanks for splaining. I’m a giver, stop eating to feed people, get their coffee before my coffee. . . Make sure they have a new razor while I use my old one. It’s something I’m working on for sure but makes me sad when it used to make me happy.

    1. donnalake

      I’m glad you got to see yourself here! I recall a certain filming experience you had that seems rather similar now…

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