I sleep in my shoes after every earthquake warning

Dear Delyara, The earthquake happened fourteen years ago, but my body still believes the house may move without warning. When there is even a small tremor, I sleep in jeans and shoes for weeks afterward. I place my keys, water, flashlight, and coat beside the bed. My husband stopped doing this years ago. He says our home is reinforced and the risk is low. I know the statistics. I also know what concrete sounds like when it breaks above you. I was trapped inside an office for six hours. A coworker died three meters away, and we could not reach her. Last night, an emergency alert test sounded on my phone. My husband rolled over and went back to sleep. I dressed quietly and sat beside the front door until morning. My daughter found me there and asked whether we needed to leave. I said no. She looked at my shoes and did not believe me. Trauma has not only taught me to fear the ground. It has taught my child to watch my feet for signs that the world is unsafe.