Yesterday morning, at work, 8:05 am, the first phone call I received was from a frantic lady. She said ____ (one of our big name clients) killed her daughter and then killed himself the night before. Then she started hysterically balling.
I had no idea what to do. I empathized with her and then put her on hold and got her the general attorney in our office, and he helped her. But, she was right - one of our clients had killed his girlfriend (her daughter) and them himself. It's kind of a big ordeal around here. He was a very successful, big name man. The age difference between them was 40 years. He had a history of abuse at work and with previous women, and so many more details that make me sick, just all around messed up.
Anyway... the phone call really threw me for a huge loop. I have NEVER heard someone that upset, the pain in her voice... and I've never been told anything like that before firsthand. I worked at a non-profit organization after college and I heard atrocious stories of things that had happened, but always second hand, so hearing the pain myself... It broke my heart and I struggled the rest of the entire day. For lots of reasons, and I'm almost through it, but...talk about a sucky Monday.