He felt lonely, desperate and afraid. It was 6:30 a.m., and the young man had collapsed in the broom closet of his tiny office. Sweaty and awake since 4, he had already consumed a quart of vodka.
Suddenly, the outer door of the office opened. A single set of footsteps moved toward the closet. Someone turned the handle, and the door opened. The young man squeezed his eyes shut. After several agonizing seconds of silence, the closet door eased shut and the unknown visitor retreated from the office.
From that moment on, the young man decided to quit hiding from himself. Maybe he had finally hit bottom. Some might say he had a spiritual awakening or a moment of personal insight. In any case, he sought professional help and began to face the consequences of his actions.
I will always be grateful for that gentle hand opening the door.