A Break-In

While I was at church on Sunday and my roommate was gone, my apartment was broken into. The thief shattered the sliding glass door, cut himself on the glass, and spilled blood all over the place while he ransacked our rooms. He took laptops, a thumb drive, a backpack, a bag, jewelry, extra purses, and buttons. (Yes, those would be the spare buttons you get when you buy nice clothes.) My school life was in my laptop and thumb drive. Past projects and reports and wireframes and church talks and photos and videos were all lost. Memories were in the earrings I've collected since I got my ears pierced two years ago. Clothes and towels were stained with that stranger's blood and had to be thrown out. A Christmas present from my mom was ruined, so that got thrown out, too.

Of course I never knew how awful it would feel to be robbed. I didn't know how precious it is to feel safe in my own home. Now, I get nervous at the prospect of just studying by myself. I avoid going home if I can help it, and I have a hard time getting good sleep. I don't want to touch anything in my apartment that he might have touched, so I spend my time at home cleaning, if possible. Or walking around in flip-flops because I don't want my feet to touch where his feet did. I have always cherished alone time, but in the last three days, I haven't wanted to be by myself. It's hard to concentrate, and it's hard to be optimistic. I scored a 19, I think, out of a possible 22 on a post-traumatic stress disorder test.

Here's something, though: I know nice people. Truly generous and genuinely kind people who give me money, food, company, places to stay, cleaning help, and hugs. One friend loaned me her laptop; another wrote me a check for a lot of money. Another friend hosted a bake sale in her department just for me. My family has called and sent e-mails and text messages and prayed on my behalf.

Life is hard, especially lately, but I'm okay. I'll get through it. I'm getting through it.


Thing I'm thankful for: family and friends