It starts, my body locks up. First, with a mild chill, then a gentle tremble. The meeting that would seal my fate was fast approaching. I could feel the outcome would be bleak.

The shaking grows as each minute ticks. The anticipation envelops my senses. I fight the urge to flee, but give in leaving my desk with a whispered mumble, directly for a sanctuary.

As I look into the bathroom mirror, my body fights on, the shaking overwhelms me; racking my body with dry heaves so violent my eyes swell with water. I can no longer contain myself. As my lunch departs from me, the water in my eyes turns to tears. Realizing everything I have worked for in the last 10 years rests on a single moment 6 minutes in the future based on one action taken by me some 6 months in the past.

As the door closes in the small room, I forget the acidic taste of vomit and sit, afraid my movements will show my fear.

“We’ve had time to consider your actions…” he continues, the words are the final crushing death blow: fired and banned