It was a Monday at the insurance office and all of the employees were busily hustling - answering calls, faxing forms, and filling out paperwork. The mood of the office was unusually tense on this day. Each person spoke little to their coworkers and seemed to be in more of a rush than usual. One person in particular, Jerry Wells, seemed more agitated than most. He clenched his teeth as he typed with shaking hands, beads of sweat rolling down the sides of his pudgy unshaven face. On any other day, his coworkers would notice his distress and ask how he was feeling, but everyone was simply too anxious to take notice or to care. The tenseness was chalked up by most people who noticed as just another closing day, as each person worked furiously to improve their numbers by the end of the day. The recession had already lent itself to a heightened anxiety over each person's job security and combine that with the rush to bring performances into compliance, you have what was happening today. So they the morning wore on, everyone became increasingly anxious. People all around the office could be seen popping antacids to settle their upset stomachs. Donna Long was one of those who, after doing her best to ignore an oncoming migraine, decided she should step out to calm her nerves with a bit of fresh air and a cigarette. She walked over to her work friend's cubicle, stepping unsteadily in her high-heeled shoes as she gripped her purse against her hip, "Sarah, come out with me. I need a smoke," she said breathily, leaning on the side of Sarah Williams's looked up at Donna, her foot nervously tapping the floor as she rolled up her sleeves, "Yeah, you're right. It is pretty awful today, isn't it? Just let me grab my purse," she pushed herself away from her desk and reached down to pick up her purse as she stood up to follow Donna to the two stepped outside and walked around the side of the building, each one fumbling with their lighters as they leaned against the building's brick exterior. "I don't know what's wrong with me today, but I am feeling seriously nauseous and I have the worst migraine coming on," Donna moaned as she rubbed her temples with her free hand, "I wonder if it's that Chinese place I had last night… Ugh… I am never going back there again."Sarah sighed and shook her head, bringing her cigarette to her lips to take a ravenous drag, feeling desperately in need of something to take the edge off of her nerves, "Yeah, I know what you mean. I have just been sweating all morning… it's not even hot today. Usually I need a sweater when I'm sitting at my desk, but today, I swear…" she took another impatient drag from her cigarette as she frowned, "I guess this month has just really got me on edge, you know? Bad case of the nerves."Donna nodded sympathetically, staring off into the distance as she tried to calm her churning stomach. Suddenly, she was hit with a strong wave of nausea which prompted her to reflexively grab her stomach, "Oooh…." she moaned painfully, "I'm so sorry, Sarah, but I feel like I'm going to be sick," she groaned apologetically, smashing her cigarette into a nearby ashtray as she shuffled back inside, heading straight to the ladies' burst her way into the bathroom, startling another coworker who had been at the sink washing her hands. "Do you really need to barge in like that? Shit!" Lisa Merkley snapped. She gasped at her reaction, which had been much harsher than she had intended, "Oh, I'm so sorry Donna, I didn't mean to snap like that. I guess I'm letting the ole nerves get the best of me," she chuckled sheepishly, rubbing the side of her face in embarrassment."Oh, don't worry about it, I am just feeling so incredibly sick," Donna called as she rushed into the closest stall and shut the door, "Ugh!" she moaned from inside the stall, clutching her stomach."Are you ok? Do you want me to get you something to make you feel better?" Lisa asked politely, the concern in her voice sincere."No, no, I just… need to let it run its course. I'll be fine, but thanks, Lisa," she struggled to sound as pleasant as possible, but her nausea was becoming unbearable. "I am absolutely never eating at that Chinese place again, I feel awful," she thought to herself repeatedly as she planted her face into her open palms."Oh, ok then, I hope you feel better. Don't hesitate to ask for anything. You know I keep my own little pharmacy at my desk," she offered anxiously as she exited the bathroom, her heels dragging against the tile of the then made her way back to her desk and sat down with a deep sigh. She lifted her hands up and saw how badly they were shaking, "What is wrong with me today?" she thought to herself, noting the feeling of paranoia creeping up on her. It was hard for her to keep those obsessive thoughts she was beginning to have at bay, "I am just overreacting... come on Lisa, get a hold of yourself!"Though she had walked right by him, Lisa didn't notice that Jerry had become increasingly agitated. He sat at his desk, his computer screen now flashing screensaver images of he and his recently deceased wife. Wiping sweat from his brow, he then reached down to clutch the handle of his drawer, hesitating as he looked down at his trembling fingers. He took a deep breath and opened the drawer to reach inside, grabbing the sawed off semi-automatic shotgun contained inside. He carefully gripped the handle of the gun still within his drawer as he contemplated his next in the bathroom, Donna had begun to sweat profusely, clutching her stomach as tears of pain rolled down the sides of her cheeks. She began to experience heart palpitations and shortness of breath. Stumbling awkwardly to her feet, she thrust open the door of the bathroom stall and shuffled to the bathroom sink, tripping over her heels as she did so. She slammed into the edge of the bathroom counter, letting out a pained screech as she pushed herself up straight. Her heart raced, skipping beats at an increased frequency. She grimaced and placed her hand over her chest to quell the storm within in, "Ugh, this has got to be the worst case of indigestion," she groaned to herself as she lowered her face to the sink to wash away her sweat-smeared makeup. She grabbed hold of the sides of the sink bowl, gasping desperately as she struggled to regain her composure. Her limbs began to ache and her peripheral vision began to fade to black. The pain in her chest became so intense, it was difficult to think or move. Her lungs felt constricted, making it painful to draw a deep breath. She knew she needed help, and she could feel the chill of death drawing near. "I'm too young for a heart attack!" she mouthed tearfully, fumbling drunkenly toward the bathroom door. As she reached out, her vision faded to black and her mind plunged into unconsciousness. Donna fell onto the cold tile floor as her heart began to give in the office, Jerry stared at his own hand strangely, as though he was no longer in control of himself. He sighed weakly and turned his gaze to his screensaver, his eyes catching a photo of him with his three children, their spouses, and his two grandchildren. It had been a family vacation to the beach and he had been so happy to share such a wonderful trip with his young grandchildren. He remembered building sandcastles with them, clapping as they proudly showed their grandpa the beautiful sea shells they found, and enjoying a quiet ocean-side barbecue with his family. Despite all of his anxiety, a smile crept across his face as he remembered. His fingertips gingerly glanced the computer screen as a lone tear rolled down the side of his nose, "forgive me," he mouthed. Click here to go to Chapter 2