When your home is no longer your castle

I have a friend whose home was broken into.  No, not by a random stranger who was wanting to rob her blind.  Rather by someone she loved and trusted.  He had a key but, in anger, chose to break down the door instead of using said key.  Now she’s living in fear.  She’s barricaded the doors with chairs and everything else she can shove against them.  She jumps at every little sound.  She’s afraid to open the windows even a crack to get some fresh air.  She’s even afraid to leave her house to get the mail.  I guess she’ll have to leave the house when she runs out of food.  Okay, maybe not – in this day and age you can order just about anything online.  Our home is supposed to be our castle.  Our safe harbor from all the storms in life.  The place where we feel the most comfortable.  The place we can be our true selves.  The place we can retreat to and then be ready to face the world again another day.  But how does one move on when the one’s safe space in life has been violated like this?  How does one pick up and start over again after being shown how unsafe one’s safest place truly is?  Nonetheless, one must.  Life doesn’t stop.  We can’t stay stuck in one spot forever.  We can’t simply shut ourselves off from the world and hope for the best.  Well, I guess people have but it isn’t good or healthy.  Something must push us to be brave.  Something must force us to say 'I can do this thing called life.'  Usually, we get that support from someone we love.  From the kindness of others.  So, go, prop someone up.  Help someone stand tall, confident, unafraid.  Hold their hand, cry if needed.  But be there...