boyfriend for 5 years. It went from emotional to
mental then the last stage was physical. I had been
abused through my entire pregnancy from being
kicked down the steps, hit with an oven door,
choked, kicked, punched, pulled up the stairs by my
hair and stepped on. My abuse continued after I left
and even happened during my custody cases. He
followed me for awhile, flattening my tires,
loosening the lug nuts on the car and pulling things
out from under the hood. He beat the crap out of
me in the hallways of the court and called me at
work and threatened to kill me. He didn't realize
that my phone was tapped to catch him. He still got
away with it. My husband and I have relocated
ourselves and kids to be safe and so far we are good.
MOTHER PUT ME OUT AND HE TOOK ME IN. I SO VALUED
THE FACT THAT I HAD A PLACE TO LIVE. WE BEGAN
OUR LIVES TOGETHER. I WAS SO IN LOVE THAT I
OVERLOOKED ALL THE WARNING SIGNS. I ALLOWED
MYSELF TO BE CONTROLLED, MENTALLY AND
PHYSICALLY FOR THE NEXT 16 YEARS. THIS MAN PUT
ME THROUGH HELL AND BACK. I RAISED HIS SON, WHO
IS NOW 21 YEARS OLD AND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH
HIS FATHER. WE ALSO HAD A DAUGHTER, WHO IS NOW
12 YEARS OLD AND HOPES TO NEVER AGAIN HAVE TO
SEE HER FATHER. OVER THE COURSE OF OUR
RELATIONSHIP I ENDURED MANY BEATINGS. I LEFT
SEVERAL TIMES, ONLY TO GO BACK BECAUSE OF THE
FINANCIAL SITUATION, YOU SEE I WAS NEVER ALLOWED
TO WORK. THE LAST STRAW CAME ON SEPT 9 OF THIS
YEAR WHEN MY HUSBAND, THE FATHER OF MY CHILD,
HELD A LOADED RIFLE TO THE BACK OF MY DAUGHTER
AND TOLD HER HE WOULD KILL US BOTH. HE HAD
NEVER, UP TO THIS POINT, DONE ANYTHING TO OUR
CHILD. I LEFT, TAKING MY DAUGHTER. I MOVED IN WITH
SOME FRIENDS IN A DIFFERENT TOWN, DIFFERENT
JURISDICTION. THIS PARISH IS AWESOME AS FAR AS
SUPPORT. WE ARE ON OUR OWN. I AM WORKING FOR
THE FIRST TIME. HE IS NOT ALLOWED TO CONTACT
EITHER OUR DAUGHTER OR MYSELF FOR THE NEXT 12
MONTHS. BEING INDEPENDENT IS ONE OF THE MOST
AWESOME FEELINGS IN THE WORLD. IF I CAN DO THIS,
SO CAN OTHER WOMEN. AND I WISH EACH AND
EVERYONE OF YOU THE BEST OF LUCK. ITS FAR FROM
EASY, BUT IT IS DEFINITELY POSSIBLE. PLEASE DO NOT
STAY IN A SITUATION THAT HARMS YOU.
