What if that 3 a.m. door had stayed locked?
My best friend visited from out of state for a fun weekend. Instead, we were drugged. She was brutally punched in the face by a stranger. We woke disoriented—no phones, no keys—left with a random Uber driver. My husband walked into horror, carried her upstairs bleeding and vomiting, cleaned everything, put me to bed, checked on us for hours without sleep, then got up with the kids like normal.
This is what safety looks like when the night goes wrong: a partner who shows up.
Hindsight lessons to stay safer next time:
- Never split up—buddy system always.
- Guard drinks: never leave them, watch them poured, cover if needed.
- Plan exit: share locations, charge phones, leave together no exceptions.
- Trust weird vibes—get out fast if something feels off.
The assault wasn’t our fault. Period. But these steps might protect someone else. Lock your doors, hold your people close.