I know, it may seem silly. What are the odds that another concert massacre would take place at one which I was attending? No one thinks it’s going to be them. The people at the Route 91 Festival in Las Vegas were likely aware of the Manchester attack, but did not think it would be them.

I was invited to go to a concert a week after the Las Vegas attack… but there was a piece of me that wanted to turn down the offer despite loving the artist and knowing I would enjoy myself.

I tend to be a skeptical, paranoid person when it comes to safety. I can be quite the party pooper if it means putting my life at risk. I love crime shows, specifically Criminal Minds, which probably only makes me more paranoid for my safety. I am familiar with “copycat killers” and to be honest, that was my main fear of attending this concert. I told my close friends my dilemma and why I was hesitant to agree to go. They all pushed me to go and told me I can’t live my life in fear.

Above all, I wanted to make sure my parents were okay with me going to a concert after the horrific events. I put myself in their shoes, and asked myself if I would want my child going to a concert days after the largest US massacre. Personally, I would be hesitant to let my child go… I was not about to make the decision for myself if my parents did not approve.

I called up my mom, told her what I was feeling, and asked if going to this concert was something she would feel uneasy about. My mom said she felt honored that I even asked what she thought about me going. She expressed her fear of also going to go to a concert in the near future and proceeded to tell me that my dad would have better insight as to whether attending the concert would be risky, since my mom and I both let our emotions cloud our judgement.

I called my dad and repeated my dilemma. He too, mentioned a “copycat” act as being the only worrying factor, but that it was highly unlikely to occur. He ensured me that my safety is not something to be primarily worried about, after the Las Vegas attack, and that if I genuinely wanted to go to the concert, I should.

During the concert, I frequently thought, "It could have been me; right here, right now, as I am enjoying myself listening to music I love, with people I love."

I was put at ease by my parents and friends, encouraging me to attend this concert. We cannot let fear hinder us from living our life to the fullest, as cliché as it is. As humanity, we should not have to be worried about losing our life, when we walk out the front door.