CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTY TWO – DROWNING IN SORROW

A knock on her door startled her. "Charlotte? It's Tony. Open up, will you?" Charlotte hesitated, then slowly made her way to the door. She opened it to find Tony, Linda, and Rony, another coworker, standing there. "What are you all doing here?" Charlotte asked, her voice hoarse. Rony stepped forward. "We're worried about you, Charlotte. This isn't like you." "Can we come in?" Linda asked gently. Charlotte sighed and stepped aside, allowing them to enter her small room. "Look," Tony began gruffly, "I'm not one for all this touchy-feely stuff, but you've been off lately. What's going on?" Charlotte sat on her bed, looking at her hands. "It's nothing. I'm fine." Linda sat beside her. "It's about Richard, isn't it? And that Sabrina woman?" Charlotte's silence was answer enough. Rony leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. "Charlotte, you can't let them get to you like this. You're stronger than that." "Am I?" Charlotte asked, her voice cracking. "I've lost everything. My fa