I felt my knees buckle under the weight of despair that suddenly crashed over me. The force with which I landed on my knees ought to have hurt. Maybe it did, but I couldn't feel it. I couldn't feel anything other than the pain consuming me.

Gasping for breath, I clutched anxiously at my chest. When I looked down, I almost anticipated seeing a gaping hole with my insides falling out.

What was happening to me?

I needed air… I—I couldn’t breathe…

Panic started ...