It was also useful.
I installed a reliable landline and upgraded the security system. I gave Sarah, Harry, and two trusted neighbors emergency contact information. I met with an estate attorney to ensure that no one could alter or transfer the property without my direct, independently verified consent.
Most importantly, I stopped confusing solitude with strength.
Healing did not happen quickly.
There were days when I felt calm and hopeful.
There were other days when the sight of a construction truck on the highway made my hands shake. Sometimes I woke before sunrise convinced that the road was blocked again.
Dr. Chun taught me how trauma can remain in the body even after the immediate danger has passed.
She taught me to breathe through those moments, look around the room, and remind myself that I was safe.
The road was open.
The doors were secure.
I was no longer alone.
