Afflicted (Verb)

Afflicted means to cause pain or suffering or distress greatly.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/afflicted

“The Story of An Hour” by Kate Chopin

“Knowing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble, great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible the news of her husbands death.”

I understand the way Mrs. Mallard was feeling due to the fact of finding the definition of this word. She felt pain and distress in finding out about her husbands death.