TESTIMONIALS

En español

“I still love him, but I love myself and my daughter more”

I am a 25 year old mother of a beautiful little 4 year old girl. I have been with my boyfriend for nearly six years.

When we first met in sixth grade we liked each other, but he eventually moved away from the area. Throughout the years, we talked and kept in touch, nothing serious. Then after I graduated from high school, I broke up with my boyfriend of three years. I met up with "BLAKE" again. I guess you can say it was a rebound, and well, I became pregnant. I had plans of going to college, but everything was put on hold.

Over the years, he started being violent. At first it was a punch here and a shove there, but it eventually got worse. I was scared. I walked on egg shells, even in my own home. He critiqued everything I wore and everything I said. I never realized how low my self-esteem was. I had no self-confidence. I stayed in this relationship for years.

Up until recently, he didn’t "ABUSE" me. He got angry when I questioned why he didn’t come home. He took me by the throat and threw me to the ground. He then began kicking me in the head over and over again. I tried to fight back, but it was pointless. I am 5’ 3” and weigh 114 lbs. He is 5' 9” and weighs 180 lbs.

As I lay there in the rocks of my own back yard trying to catch my breath while bleeding from my own skull and various other parts of my body, I realized my daughter had been watching the whole thing and screaming in fear. I had put her in a room and locked the door but she got out. It was right then, at that moment, I realized I had been in an abusive relationship for six years. I am mortified that my four year old daughter will now think it is okay or normal to have a relationship that mirrors this behavior.

I do admit I still love him, but I love myself and my daughter more.