For ten years starting from when I was 21 a much older man captured me. Yes I was a willing participant but I was taken. To the outside world we were happy. But this man was sick. I know he was sick now because I’m on the outside looking in. I was a broken girl. Omg leaving was so scary. The abuse went on for so long. All of it wasn’t physical. Mostly emotional.

The worst landed me in the hospital with 9 staples in my head. That won’t ever go away... that memory

But guess what.

I turned 30

And I grew the fuck up

And I left

And I took care of myself. I got my own place, I filed for divorce

I saved my puppies. They came with me

Omg it was so hard. The police had to be involved. He said he was coming to kill me. My new job had to be on lock down. It was so embarrassing. I’m a professional, I have worked at my career for a very long time. He tried to take that from me

He LOST

I won

I was terrified, the police told me to leave out of state I wasn’t safe. If I left then he would have won !!!!!

I stayed

I excelled at work. It was so SCARY to live alone. Every noise I thought was him

But I did it

And I met my new husband

And he put the pieces back into me that were broken

But the real healer was ME

I survived and came back stronger

NO MAN can have you. You HAVE you

You are not a possession you are amazing and beautiful and you can do this

This photo is me now just so you can see me

The survivor AND the winner