At 3 A.M., My Brother Dragged Me Out of My Bedroom While Dad Laughed—He Had No Idea What the Smoke Detector Had Recorded

Replacement household items.

Possibly new locks.

Travel to appointments.

Legal costs.

I had some savings, but not enough to feel comfortable.

Still, I knew I couldn’t use financial anxiety as a reason to remain.

Ruth helped me examine realistic housing options.

I chose a modest duplex.