I was kidnapped in 2004 and held for 48 hours by gang members. I wrote this story out ...for the first time ever last month (12 years later). I have never shared it in this detail. I thought about publishing it but just never really tried. I saw your post, and thought why the hell not. Yes, it changes you. I carried knives and guns around all the time, slept with them in my bed. My warning signals are pretty acute now. I trained in martial arts for years after it happened. I went down a rough road afterwards. Met a lot of bad people in an effort to be tough so something like that wouldn't happen again. 0/10 would not enjoy being kidnapped again. I still have a sense of humor, and that is what saved me. Here goes. It was 2004, and only a few days before my senior prom. It was 1 AM, and I heard a ding coming from computer that let me know someone was sending me a message on AOL Instant Messenger (Which if you remember, you are officially getting old). “Hi, It’s ______ I am ____ friend. We met at the concert a few weeks ago. _____ says your a good guy and I need to meet a good person these days.” An enigmatic message from a mystery woman who needed my help. Could it get anymore “Chinatown” than that? “Hey, I remember you. Are you ok?” As we chatted for the next several hours the mystery woman would weave a tale about an abusive and extremely violent ex-boyfriend, needing to find new friends, and looking for a fresh start. At 18, I wanted to become a counselor or a psychologist. I was someone whom my friends would turn to for support, and to have someone turn to me in their darkest moment felt wonderful. It made me feel like I was a healer, I was useful. She chose her mark well. “It sounds like right now, you need a friend. sure, we can meet up.”