My Story

Summary

A woman recounts her escape from an abusive relationship, emphasizing the importance of leaving violent situations and the lasting impact of her experiences.

Abstract

The narrative describes a young mother's harrowing journey through an abusive relationship that lasted two years. Despite enduring physical violence and self-blame, her resolve to protect her children became paramount when her abuser threatened their safety. She carefully planned her escape, ultimately fleeing with her children to ensure their survival. Now, 23 years later, she reflects on the indelible memories of her past while reassuring others in similar situations that safety and a new life are possible. She advocates for awareness and action against domestic violence, urging victims to seek help and not to believe promises of change from abusers.

Opinions

The author believes that self-preservation and the protection of one's children are paramount in abusive situations.
She emphasizes that the cycle of abuse will not cease without intervention and will likely worsen over time.
The author conveys a strong message of empowerment, encouraging victims to take control of their lives and leave abusive relationships.
She is adamant that public promises of reform by abusers should not be trusted.
The author considers herself fortunate to have escaped and wants to inspire others to do the same, suggesting that sharing survivor stories can be a powerful tool in raising awareness about domestic violence.

My Story

I met a guy , grew to care about him , I was young and naive , I was a young mother with 3 small kids. I was in this relationship with this guy for 2 years. For a year and a half I was fighting for my life. I was blaming myself every time I got hit , I blamed it on me , I felt i did something wrong , even though he drank and was a abusive man. I would wake up late every night with a fist in my face , or i would get thrown across the room like I was a rag doll. I was afraid but I didn’t yet see the light. It was the day he broke a wooden bed slat in half and hit my 3 year old baby boy with is . I had to go , I couldn’t stop him he was much stronger the me , so I had to plan it out carefully , and that’s what I did. I almost didn’t get away , he followed me to the payphone that day , he was about to hit me in public , which wouldn’t really have mattered. But when he tried to hold me back I headbutted him in the nose , grabbed my babies took off running and never looked back. I lost everything , my apartment , everything me and my babies owned , everything just to get away from the life we were living before we died. And here I am 23 years later , I don’t have to carry the bruises or worry about my kids being hit anymore. But I do have the memories burned in my brain forever. it’s not easy forgetting , not sure if I ever will. But at least I know i’m safe. So if your in a bad situation and you are afraid , please, Please i’m begging you get out while you’re still alive. I’m one of the lucky ones , You can be too. There are a lot of people out there that can help you. if you are staying because he says “ he loves you and wont do it again” hes lying , it won’t stop , it will just get worse. So for anyone who is struggling , wake up , get you a plan in place and get out. The one day when you’er a survivor , you can share your story with me. #EmpowerNetwork Domestic Violence Awareness