I survived, and I thrived

3 years ago, if you had told me this is what My life would look like, I wouldn’t have believed you. 3 years ago, I was a 20 year old kid trying to figure out why I was even alive. I came from a broken childhood. From a drug addicted absent father, a manipulative mother, 2 handsy step fathers... And then after all that I had to fight my way out of an abusive relationship with a man I had no business being with in the first place. I ran away at 18 with a man 10 years older than me because I thought he could save me from my home life. I was so desperate to get out I ignored all the red flags and I even thought some of his behavior was normal I was so numb to abuse. And then he turned out to be just like them. No. Sorry. He turned out worse. 3 years ago I sat across from a social worker and was told leaving was too risky— it’d be better for me to stay with him. That was my situation; no one could help me. 3 years ago I had nothing else to lose but my life— and that wasn’t worth much to me anyways. I escaped the cycle of abuse for good. I finally clawed my way out of that darkness. And then I met this man. This man who didn’t want to fix me. Didn’t want to rescue me. This man who just wanted to hold my hand, kiss away my tears while I rescued myself. He saw all my flaws, all the mistakes and bad choices I made— and I made some very bad decisions trying to figure my life out. And he loved me anyways. He encouraged me. He was my peace, my home. He’s stayed steady and strong even in the middle of my worst storms. He gave me what I needed to clean up my act. To heal from what I had done to myself and what I had gone through. And now here we are. 3 years later and finally— finally. I’m healthy. I’m happy. I have an amazing husband. A gorgeous daughter. My own business. A job working from home. I have a HOME.

I’m still healing, I’m still growing and changing. But it’s so good after so long of just barely surviving, to FINALLY be thriving ❤️

To anyone going through hell. It gets better. Life does go on, and it DOES GET BETTER. Reach out for help when and if you can. Find a way out. Even if you think it’s impossible— find a way. There’s light out here. I promise.