Well, I was told by the police that the protective order and court fees would have to be paid by the offender. You didn't ask for this woman to treat you this way. Why should you have to pay for her to stop, leave you alone, or prevent her form doing you harm? That wouldn't make since would it? Abusers go through cycles. They go through a "honeymoon" phase and that is why she tried to apologize to you and then went right back to her negative ways. Please, do not try to be friends with this woman!! You should never try to be friends with someone that is abusive to you in anyway. She sounds very dangerous. She obviously displays the patterns typical to abusers. It may just be gossip, but she may have quite possibly been abusive to her husband, and may have had something to do with his death. That is not good at all. You should not keep "enemies" close enough that could harm you. When you have PTSD, you need to only be around trustworthy people. I'm glad you stood up for yourself. Try doing it more so that you don't explode, when it becomes absolutely necessary to say enough is enough. I'm also glad you called the police. Hopefully it will scare her enough so that she'll leave you alone. Good luck and good job.