10

I was bent down on the ground with my head in my knees, crying in the middle of the bathroom—luckily nobody was in here.

The door opened but I couldn't stop crying. I tried to stop and compose myself before someone saw me in the midst of a breakdown but I could not stop. I couldn't get the crying to stop.

It was a waterfall. A burst water pipe.

"Hey," a soft voice spoke. Someone bent down, wrapping their arms around me. "It's okay. Just—breathe."

I continued crying and sobbing for a minute. I sniffled, my breath hitching as I raised my head.

I wiped my cheeks with the...