Every Woman in Need of Respite

UPDATE: To let you know how the money will be used is as follows:

I've actually been working on this for over two years..

(updated March 28)

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A few years ago, with my best friend sobbing on the line, I knew the crying was different. Just as a mother instinctively knows her own child's cry - I knew it was worse than before. I quietly listened and then asked her where she was. She was in her car, in a parking lot.

I asked her a question I truly didn't want the answer to.

"Do you have a weapon with you?"

Milliseconds stretched to hours in my mind as I awaited her response. I could hear her gathering her breath as she croaked out a whisper, "I don't know."

This was just around the time the 9-8-8 hotline was in its infancy and less effective. I wanted her to check into the hospital but her response was no because she "didn't want to ruin her life."

I had no idea what she was talking about until I learned about the differing laws and how outdated they are. There's something they call California a 51-50 which is an involuntary hold. It's basically when you can't take care of yourself and so you either check yourself into the psych ward and are branded for LIFE.

YET, IF I KILLED SOMEONE, THAT COULD BE EXPUNGED FROM MY RECORD IN SEVEN YEARS?

Think about what can happen in three days.