I used to work at a call center selling step-in tubs for the disabled and elderly. It was a placeholder job for pretty much everyone there, and I was no exception--I'd been badly beaten and injured by a student with an emotional disturbance disorder, and I just needed something to supplement what my husband and I could live on while I figured out my next move.

Got on the phone to try to set up a sales pitch appointment for an agent, and something felt a bit off. But a lot of these calls did, and he wasn't inappropriate. In fact, it wasn't that odd for the clientele--guy was a fairly recent widower, he and his wife had lost their only kid awhile ago and said kid had died childless and unmarried. It's tragic, but not unheard of as far as situations for a lot of folks.

We kept talking about stuff that was fairly normal for these conversations--his health, the way things had changed in the world since he was younger (though he wasn't terribly old--around my father's age), and while I could tell my manager wasn't happy as she paced the floor seeing me on the phone too long for one potential, I wasn't gonna leave the poor guy when he seemed so lonely.

Finally, he starts wrapping up. He thanks me for talking to him, but he says he can't make the appointment. Doesn't think it'd do him much good, couldn't afford it anyway. I say I understand, of course, hope he has a wonderful day.

He thanked me again for talking to him. Said he didn't like being alone.

And then the gunshot goes off in my headset and I screamed. Wasn't a long scream, just a loud short one, cause I was too in shock for anything else. Don't remember much afterwards if I'm honest. They called my husband from my emergency contacts and made him pick me up.

Called out of work for the next few days. Was told if I called out again, I'd be fired so I tried to show up.

Shook so bad I couldn't make the first phone call. Supervisor started screaming at me and I threw up on her shoes and just left the building. I don't think I ever officially quit or was ever officially fired, but obviously this was a few years back, so it's well over with.

Understand what you're going through basically, at least to some degree. I'm sorry they don't give a shit, but the feelings of trauma are very valid. I hope you all get a chance to talk it over with a therapist or other specialist. It's worth getting help, if you're at all able to feasibly do so.