Almost a year ago to date, a man I barely knew broke into my home, held me hostage, and put a gun to my head before he left.
There’s before that day, and after. My entire life has changed due to this event. I moved and told no one where I live. I find it hard to be alone with people I haven’t known my whole life. I cut a ton of people out of my life. The type of trauma I experienced changed my brain chemistry. I couldn’t eat, sleep, or even drink water. I couldn’t stop crying. I am fundamentally a different person today. I don’t know who that person is anymore.
Almost a year later and I am healing. I know what gun violence did to me. I do not want it to happen to anyone else… and I’m one of the lucky ones….