“What the hell happened to you, and why did you call me over?” Vivian inquired as he stepped into the parking lot and approached me.

I had yet to leave the firm's parking lot; I didn’t find the strength even to move. I knew I couldn’t function this way. My brain had gone blank, and if I were to drive my car, chances are I would crash it in under a minute. I wasn’t sane enough, so I called the next best person I knew. Vivian.

He told me he was still at work but promised he would come as soon as he could, and I told him where I...