So I was a mess. I drove back home in a total daze. I think for the most part, I was in denial. There was no way that could have happened. How could I have let it come to that? How badly did I *want* it to come to that? Then there was guilt… Because I had a girlfriend. Because Autumn was my student. I mean, I was just trying to do the right thing, wasn’t I? I didn’t actually think something like that would happen…

I didn’t freak out. Not right away. Once I got back to my place, I just stumbled into my bedroom. I sat on the...