There was a shooting at Valley Fair Mall yesterday. Today, the mall is back open and people aback looking to shop, find deals, and conduct business as usual. But for those who work here that may not be the case. We may still smile at you and look to tend to your wants and needs. We may seem fine and unaffected but underneath we are hurting. Our home was violated by violence. 

Just as anyone who has a job and works from a separate location from where they live, our jobs become like a second home. Some of us spend more time at work than we may do at our actual homes. And for those of us who work in a mall we are all part of the same home. Regardless of what company we work for we all call the mall our second home. This connects us all. So when something happens in one part of the mall it affects us all. The violence that struck last night shook this mall to its core.t as anyone who has a job and works from a separate location from where they live, our jobs become like a second home. Some of us spend more time at work than we may do at our actual homes. And for those of us who work in a mall we are all part of the same home. Regardless of what company we work for we all call the mall our second home. This connects us all. So when something happens in one part of the mall it affects us all. The violence that struck last night shook this mall to it’s core It made home feel unsafe for many. Some may have stayed away but many other came in same as always due to any amount of factors including needing to get paid, loyalty to their work, or potentially being told they have to report. Either way, they have been affected by this violation of violence. 

So all in all my ask for anyone going to Valley Fair Mall, or really any mall is to practice patience and empathy. Barring that, at least some sympathy for those of us who are here tending your wants and needs. We went through a trauma yesterday and we may not be “ok”.