today was laurie's last day. the exact details of how this day came to be aren't exactly clear and even if i did know, i wouldn't write about it. what i will write is how i feel, and i feel pretty lousy. her departure came quite sudden, and just so happened to coincide with a farewell party the company was throwing for stef and allie. i felt a grave injustice was being served, because laurie deserved a proper good bye as well, but while everybody else was in the conference room having pizza and drinks and laughing, she was at her desk clearing out the last of her e-mail. it didn't feel right, and when i finally had my pizza and cake, i wasn't really able to enjoy it.

i'm going to miss laurie telling me to shut up. miss her laughing at our stupid jokes. miss her rings. miss going to get coffee with her in the morning, and miss going out to lunch in the afternoon. i'm going to miss walking by the printer to get my printouts and seeing her work on the imac that she hated so much. most of all, i will miss having someone to talk to in the office when i'm bored or just need somebody to chat with.

so in the span of a week, not one, not two, not three, but four people have left the company. our company's small enough, but to have a reduction in staff of four people is a significant number. this company has to stop bleeding employees.