Some events are life-changing in the impact they have. We may experience such an event and then change our behavior in order to avoid having such an event again. This happened to me a few years ago when I was robbed in the garage of my building. Before that event, I was not a very suspicious person and did not take extra precautions in my everyday life. After that event, I changed my behavior in a number of ways and have been much more careful.
This happened about five years ago. It was midnight when I was topped in my garage by a man with a gun. He wore a woman's stocking over his face, and this made him look horrible and frightening. He stole everything he could from me. He took a sapphire ring that my mother had given me. It was a special treasure in my life and I wa sorry to lose it. I was also frightened and gave it to him when he asked. He also took a very expensive leather jacket my ex-boyfriend had given me. He took my money, which was more than I usually carried because I had the money my parents had sent me to help support me at school. At the time, I did not have a work visa, so this was the only money I had.
The robbery was not the whole problem. After he took my possessions he held me at gunpoint and made me drive him to the bank to get more money. I was really frightened when this happened. Every moment is in my mind to this day. I still remember him clearly, even the tattoo on his neck, his large eyebrows, and his sharp features. As we drove, I saw a police car nearby. I could to nothing. I could not call out to them, and I had no way of getting their attention. I felt lucky when he had the money and left me without hurting me.
After this happened, I could not drive alone at night. I was afraid to stop at signals because I was afraid of being carjacked. I was afraid to stay home alone and had trouble sleeping. I was always afraid someone would come into the house when I was asleep. I...