After I finish hurling up my breakfast, I take a deep breath and head into work. I try to arrive before everyone, but there’s a stream of well-wishers coming into the kitchen. Everyone has heard what happened by now and wants to check on me. I know they care, but it makes me feel a little like a freakshow as they ask about my black eye. The bruise from my forehead has sunk down so my whole cheek is purple and green. There’s no hiding it.

So far, Juniper has helped me ...