A Day in Menopause · A Hormonal Comedy by Nurit Rozenblat
Chapter Two: 07:03 — The Brain Took a Break
At 07:03 in the morning, Dana woke up for the second time.
This time she wasn't hot. She wasn't cold. She wasn't even wet with sweat.
For a moment she thought maybe her body had decided to apologize for the events of the night.
And then she tried to remember what day it was.
Friday? Sunday? Wednesday?
She looked at the clock.
Saturday.
Great. At least one of them knew what was going on.
"Today I'm not doing anything," she announced.
Eyal, still lying beside her, opened one eye.
"Excellent."
"I mean it. No tasks, no plans, and no pressure."
"Sounds wonderful."
"But first I need to do a few things."
Eyal closed the eye.
"I knew that was coming."
Dana went into the bathroom and stood in front of the sink.
She knew she had come in there for something. Something important.
She opened the medicine cabinet. Closed it. Opened a drawer. Closed it.
She looked at the toothbrush.
"Oh, right."
She started brushing, and then noticed she was holding her phone in her other hand.
When had she picked it up?
Welcome to brain fog, her inner voice remarked.
Excuse me?
Changes in estrogen levels, together with fragmented sleep, can affect concentration and short-term memory.
So now my brain is joining the party too?
It would actually be happy to sleep a little more.
Dana put the phone down, rinsed her mouth, and left.
A moment later she came back to get it.
She left again.
And came back to turn off the light.
Maybe try doing one thing at a time? the voice suggested.
I am doing one thing at a time.
You keep coming back to the same room three times.
That's called exercise.
In the kitchen she decided to make coffee.
She switched on the machine, closed her eyes, and surrendered to the aroma.
And then she heard a strange dripping.
The coffee was pouring straight into the tray.
With no cup.
"You've got to be kidding me."
The machine is fine, the voice remarked. It just never got a cup.
Are you against me this morning too?
Eyal walked in just as she was trying to save the last drops.
"Good morning."
"Don't say good morning."
"A reasonable morning?"
He looked at the machine and at the empty cup.
"I see the coffee decided to drink itself."
"Eyal, I am currently in a crisis of trust with the machine. Do not get involved."
Dana opened the fridge.
She stood in front of it.
Why had she opened it?
She closed it.
She remembered the milk.
She opened it again.
She took it out, poured it into the cup, and without thinking put the cup back in the fridge.
A moment later she looked for it on the counter.
"Eyal, where is my coffee?"
He pointed at the fridge.
Dana opened it.
The cup was standing next to the cheese.
At least you're keeping the milk refrigerated, the voice remarked.
Can you be quiet for five minutes?
Fatigue makes it harder to concentrate.
I know I'm tired! I was there when I woke up at three in the morning!
Eyal started laughing.
"What's so funny?"
"I've never seen anyone make coffee using the storage method."
"Go on. You'll reach fifty yourself one day."
"I've already passed it."
"Then you have no excuse."
Dana straightened her back.
"Enough. I managed projects, raised children, ran a home. I am perfectly capable of making a cup of coffee."
"I have no doubt."
"You're thinking out loud with your face."
She switched the machine on again.
This time the cup was in place.
The coffee flowed into it.
"There!"
Eyal clapped. One clap, slow.
"You're playing with fire," she warned.
Dana sat down to drink.
And then she remembered something important.
"Eyal, where is my phone?"
"I don't know."
"Call me!"
Eyal dialed.
A ring sounded very close.
Dana turned toward the living room.
The ring moved with her.
She went back to the kitchen.
The ring came back too.
"What is this thing?"
Eyal couldn't speak anymore. He just pointed at her.
Dana looked at her hand.
The phone was there.
On the screen appeared:
Eyal is calling.
She answered.
"Yes?"
"Found it?" Eyal asked, bursting with laughter.
"Yes."
"Where?"
"In a safe place."
"Where?"
"Eyal, I'm hanging up."
She hung up and started laughing herself.
Momentary forgetfulness doesn't mean your intelligence has been damaged, the voice reminded her. Try to slow down, reduce distractions, and rest when you can.
Finally, some normal advice.
"You know what?" she said to Eyal. "I'm going back to bed."
"Excellent idea."
She got up, walked to the hallway, and stopped.
"Eyal?"
"Yes?"
"Why am I going to the bedroom?"
He opened his mouth, closed it, and finally said:
"You know what? I'm not sure anymore either."
To rest, the voice reminded her.
"Right!" Dana cried.
Eyal raised his head.
"Who are you talking to?"
"The only one in this house who still remembers anything."
She went into the bedroom and closed the door.
Three seconds later she opened it again.
"Eyal!"
"What now?"
"Bring me my phone!"
He looked at her hand.
Dana looked too.
The phone was there.
I'm not saying a word, the voice promised.
You'd better not.
Dana closed the door and lay down on the bed.
The time was 07:26.
The day had only just begun.
And her brain had already asked for unpaid leave.
End of Chapter Two.
Continued in Chapter Three: 08:16 — Who Stole My Energy?
© 2026 Nurit Rozenblat. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without the author's prior written permission.
