Theresa

Never hold back your tears. Allow them to stream with your head high. And always remember to let your family, friends, and loved ones know how much you love and care for them.

A few years ago, Theresa’s cousin, Matthew, died by suicide. She has relived the trauma of his death over and over for years. One day while at work, she hit a breaking point.

My shift began like any other, but I wasn’t feeling or acting like my usual happy, sarcastic, and filled-with-endless-energy self that day.

I mostly kept to myself and did my own thing. I went on my deliveries and completed my nightly chores dutifully.

I can’t pinpoint the moment my delirium crept in, but what I do remember and will never forget are the delusions I experienced. Each scenario played before me in my mind was of a family member or friend who had taken their life.

For Theresa, who has been diagnosed with anxiety, ADHD, and major depressive disorder, the delusions were a clear sign that something was wrong.

The voice that spoke to me throughout the remainder of my shift that night was a stranger to my ears.

I’ve since concluded that whoever was speaking was possibly God, one of his angels, or a guardian of an unknown origin sent to watch over me in my hour of need. I don’t remember much else.

A coworker offered to finish up Theresa’s nightly tasks so she could go home. She left work, went to her truck, but she didn’t drive home. Instead, she sat with her foot on the brake, shifting through the gears over and over. In time, her boss called the police to check on her. An ambulance came and took her to the hospital.