| To show or not to show? To share or not to | | | | difficult. A few months after we moved in, I |
| share? After deliberating, it was a no | | | | was laid off from my job. The man who hired |
| brainer for me to show other women (and men), | | | | me kept me employed until his wife came back |
| just SOME of what I have been through. Yes, a | | | | from pregnancy leave, then he let me go and |
| picture tells a thousand words. But why did | | | | she took over my position. He never mentioned |
| it happen? What did "I" do to cause it? Was | | | | his plan to only keep me until she returned. |
| there any domestic violence prevention that | | | | |
| could have been done? Why did he do this? | | | | The strain financially did not make my |
| Many women ask these same questions. | | | | boyfriend happy. We started getting into |
| | | | disagreements. Then one night the yelling |
| Sometimes there are absolutely NO "logical" | | | | started. So I went into the bathroom and |
| reasons why things happen. Sometimes there | | | | packed a bag to go and stay at my |
| are logical reasons. But none of them make us | | | | girlfriend's house. Ahhh, THAT is when it |
| physically, emotionally, or mentally feel any | | | | started. He threw me across the bathroom and |
| better after they happen. | | | | I hit my head on the sink and fell between |
| | | | the toilet and the sink to the floor. I |
| Was this the only time? Well, I would love to | | | | remember staring at my legs and arms. They |
| tell you it was. But that wouldn't be the | | | | were not comfortable in the contorted |
| truth. And the truth is why we are all here, | | | | position in which they landed. But I was in |
| right? To find the truth and seek our own | | | | shock mostly that he so effortlessly pushed |
| solutions to get out. | | | | my chest and I literally flew across the |
| | | | bathroom. |
| Were there red flags? In reflection, "Heck, | | | | |
| yes!" | | | | Instead of hearing "I'm so sorry, I didn't |
| | | | mean to do that!", I heard, "You're not |
| He was so nice at first. A gentleman, | | | | f@#$ing going anywhere!" Obviously, I stayed |
| seriously. Then we moved in together. BIG | | | | home. |
| mistake. By then, financially, times were | | | | |