Bleary eyed, at 7:49am, I walked out of my bedroom, dragging my feet towards the bathroom of my apartment. I didn’t sleep well. I had weird, vivid dreams of not being good enough for my friends and family. Tossing and turning all night as my subconscious raced wildly didn’t lend itself to a restful sleep.

As I stared at my reflection in the bathroom mirror, I reminded myself that this Work from Home situation was much more convenient because I don’t even know who I am outside of sweatpants. I look back a year ago and think, ‘Wow, she looks like an entirely different person. Getting up and getting dressed, commuting to work, and dealing with people face to face — that version of me has so much energy.’ I give her kudos, mentally patting myself on the back for my past me’s productivity as I simultaneously berate my current self for not getting up earlier.

It’s a love-hate relationship.

Once I change into my pandemic work clothes, I feel ready to start my day. My watch reads 8:26am. Perfect. I turn to my desk to boot up my laptop but I stop short.

There’s someone.

At my desk.

Doing work.

I pause, taking in the sight. My first reaction is to flip out because why wouldn’t I? I live in a secure apartment complex on the 5th floor, how could a stranger get in???

But I am surprisingly calm. This person looks like me. To a tee. Honestly, it feels like a weird out of body experience. I’ve always wondered what people see when they look at me. Do I always look like that?

I observe.

“Hey... do you want me to make us some coffee?” I caution a greeting in her direction.

Without looking at me she says “Hey! That’d be great! I’m just sending off some emails, Emily wants to set up a meeting with me and Paige and David wanted me to loop in Accounting on the situation from yesterday.” She continues clicking away, fingers clacking against the keyboard, mousing flitting from screen to screen.

I start the coffee maker and walk over to where she sits, and hover behind her, curious. Those are actual things I needed to get done today. Huh. I briefly wonder if people will know the difference between me and uh—

“What’s your name?” I direct it at her as im trying to get our coffees situated.

“Oh i’m Isabelle.” She waves a little hi before turning back to the computer. It’s quiet for a moment and I hear her huff anxiously. “Is David always so intimidating??” She peers at me from the laptop.

“Most of the time? But he is the owner of the company, so he can’t always be a big softie.” I hand her the steaming coffee, smiling to myself. I return to the kitchen to clean up and glance back at Isabelle, diligently working on my (our?) work.

I take out my phone, take a picture of my apparent twin, and send it to my best friend and co-worker, Dawn, with the text “so um, this is a thing that happened? Her name is Isabelle and she just like appeared in my apartment and is doing my work? I don’t know 😅 send help”

Immediately, there are three dots typing. The responses come back in quick succession.

“WHAT”

“HOW”

“WHO IS THAT”

“Are you ok”

“Am I ok”

“What is happening here”

“I need more coffee”

She took it better than I thought. I quickly shoot off a text or two, responding with what I have inferred from this morning.

The text comes back in “So are you - real you - working then?”

I hum to myself as I internally debate getting work done alongside her or just, you know, not.

It’s not a hard choice.

I decide to change into actual people clothes, so I can go run some errands after finishing up chores I’ve been putting off, peripherally aware of this total stranger. Luckily, I live alone so Isabelle’s presence won’t startle anyone else.

As i’m getting ready to leave, I stop by the desk.

“I’ll be heading out, call me if you need anything. There’s food in the fridge, just eat whatever, make yourself at home!” I jot my phone number on a post it note before ultimately locking up behind me.

When I got back after work hours, feeling accomplished, Isabelle was nowhere to be found.

But my work was done.