I was always told growing up that safety was important. My father specifically reminded me, "There are 2 things that can never be replaced: your life and your innocence." Any material possession was purchased with money and could be replaced with money. Sure, my car is my baby, but it's purpose and essence can be filled by another if something were to happen to it. In certain circumstances, one might think of health, but illness can be cured and bones healed over time. The worst things to lose are things that cannot be replaced: a life or one's innocence.

Madness overtook me in the summer I lost my life. No, I didn't die, but I may have preferred it. Every plan that I had made for my future fell apart; as that foundation and building block was removed, the rest followed like a poorly build Jenga tower. It's wild to think about this now so many years later. After spending so long taking away what's so precious to other, and my life joins my innocence in oblivion, I wanted to give something back.

Don't: WALK home alone. Anything that makes you more difficult of a target can bring you safety. Running, biking, driving all increase the difficulty of being caught. Someone else will probably be walking, and I can wait for the easier prey.

Don't: Walk HOME alone. Ah, home, the place that you stay and have a routine and always return to. Really just don't catch my attention that I can follow you. But if you're being followed, maybe take a trip somewhere else, more public. Don't let me know where you live and where I can find you at all times. Because maybe it's not a good time now, but if I know where to look I can come back later.

Don't: Walk Home ALONE. This is the obvious one and what people think of when they hear the phrase. Safety in numbers. Have a buddy. They can protect you. But people don't realize the amount of value you can get from smaller versions of this. Dog are loud and have teeth; not the most friendly target. Even being on the phone would immediately alert someone that something's wrong. I can't have that.

Protect what's important and can't be replaced: your life and your innocence before you end up.. well..

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-Advice from that shadow that definitely moved.