Weapon of Choice

Tonight is my last night alone in my apartment, and I've been feeling nostalgic. I've had some good times in this place, my first true apartment by myself. I've also had some scary as hell times.

Being a 24-year-old woman living alone can be intimidating. I used to smell weird, burning chemicals in my living room at night that would give me headaches. I didn't know what it could be, and I mentioned it to the apartment manager. Could she have maintenance come out and check the water heater, AC and refrigerator? No problems there. A few weeks later I was getting ready for work in the morning and heard my 'thug' neighbor banging around in his apartment. "How rude, he even disturbs me in the morning." When I left for work there was a police officer going through his red caddy, and two others had rubber gloves on and were chatting. Come to find out the thug had been arrested that morning for selling drugs.

For a month after the arrest I was sure he would think I had something to do with it, so I would sprint out to my car at 5:30 a.m. on my way to a fitness bootcamp and lock my doors immediately. Logical, I know.

About two months ago I was woken up by LOUD banging at 4:30 in the morning. I froze in bed wondering if it was my neighbor's front door or mine. The adrenaline coursed through my body, and I started to sweat. My bedroom door doesn't have a lock, and I don't own a gun. I crept out of bed and tiptoed over to the vanity and grabbed my hairspray. That would work like mace, right? Poised for attack, I waited for the intruder to enter my room. A half hour later with no sign of an invader, I crawled back in to bed - a little less sweaty.

Choose your weapon.
Shotgun Shell Earrings $22; Pocket Knife Necklace $88; Aubaine Shotgun Shell Necklace $28; Guns 'N' Posies Necklace $175; AR-15 Trigger Two Finger Ring $195.