In recent days, as the Orem community and those connected to UVU continue to wrestle with the idea that such an act could happen so close to home, there’s been a slow and steady return to campus.

On Wednesday, classes resumed for UVU students, but not everyone was ready to go back.

A sense of uneasiness and anxiety was still being felt by UVU student Aubrey, who asked to only be identified by her first name — and was at the event where Kirk was reportedly shot.

Aubrey told the Daily Herald that she chose not to go back to campus on Wednesday.

“To me, the thought of returning is difficult,” she said.

Aubrey recalled being at Kirk’s speaking event with her boyfriend and her reaction to the shooting.

“So when the shot rang out, it sounded like a whip,” she said. “And, pardon the language, but my first reaction was, ‘s**t, what was that?'”

With little time to process what was happening, the couple knew they had to escape safely.

With the recent string of mass school shootings, as reported by the Associated Press, while Aubrey and her boyfriend were running away from campus, she anticipated with fear hearing more gunshots.

Unknowingly at the time that only one shot was fired which reportedly hit Kirk, according to FBI officials, Aubrey said another dreaded thought came into her head.

“My biggest fear wasn’t me getting shot. My biggest fear was my mother having to get that call that I was dead because someone couldn’t deal with a different opinion than them,” she told the Daily Herald.

Before the news hit media outlets, and began circulating around the county, Aubrey called her mom to let her know what had happened and that they were able to flee the campus.

Kirk was pronounced dead by late Wednesday afternoon, and the hunt for his suspected shooter was underway.

The shooting left Aubrey, her boyfriend and others who attended the event shellshocked.

Aubrey said while she didn’t agree with all of Kirk’s views regarding various political issues, she respected that he welcomed open debate among people with different opinions.

She feels that individuals, regardless if they’re a public figure or not, should have a right to share varying opinions in an open space without fear of violence ensuing.

“Welcoming debate without feeling threatened  is having a safe space to share your opinions with other people without fear of getting killed,” she said.

Aubrey’s  boyfriend, Mikhail, a student at Brigham Young University who also requested to be identified by his first name, shared her exact thoughts.

The suspected gunman, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson of Washington, Utah was captured and booked into the Utah County Jail less than two days after the shooting.

On Tuesday, Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray announced a slew of formal charges against Robinson, and plans to pursue the death penalty.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Robinson conversed with a roommate accusing Kirk of spreading “too much hate”, and allegedly implied or confessed to the shooting at UVU.

For Mikhail, the thought of someone possibly being killed because of differing opinions doesn’t sit well with him.

“This person killed Charlie for the sole purpose of not liking what Charlie had to say. And  I’m scared to have my opinions that I have, and I don’t think I should live like that in this country,” he said.

Prior to Robinson’s capture, Mikhail said replaying the shooting in his head weighed heavily on him, leading to an intense feeling of fear.

“I legit had to sleep in my living room because I couldn’t sit next to a glass door because I (was) afraid the guy was going to come get me,” he said.

The feeling is also prompting difficulty for Aubrey to navigate public places.

“I tried going to Dollar Tree and I had an anxiety attack,” she said. “And then I tried to volunteer at a school, and I could only stay there for like an hour, and I had to go home. I don’t know how I’m going to reintegrate into loud sounds and lots of people.”

Now with Robinson behind bars, Aubrey said it still may be a while before she heads back to in-person classes at UVU, if at all. But she finds peace knowing that the alleged shooter is in custody.

“I feel relieved, like I could actually go outside without feeling worried,” she said.

Despite any uncertainty students may feel going back to campus, UVU says they are committed to supporting those who want it with a variety of mental health resources.

With faculty and students trying to regain a sense of normalcy back on campus, UVU is expected to hold a “Vigil for Unity” Friday afternoon at the UCCU Center, according to university officials.