I stomped back and forth across the floor of my bedroom, waiting for the taxi to arrive. I can feel the rage rising with each step, and no matter what I do, whether it's counting to ten, taking a deep breath, nothing helps; I can't settle.

I thought I had experienced pain before. Everything I have ever endured feels minuscule compared to it. This pain hurts to breathe; my whole body aches. Sometimes, I find it hard to breathe. It feels like someone is squeezing my lungs, then releasing them only enough for me to catch my breath before resuming the torture, like a never-ending, vicious cycle.

I collapsed against...