Finally Found “The One”

17 years ago, I met and married the man who would become my biggest abuser, the single reason I had such a low opinion of myself, and the reason I had almost no friends or family around me as a support group. He drove away my parents, my best friends, and even my daughter.

Two and a half years ago, thanks to the man in this picture, I finally gathered the courage to stand up for myself and to walk out on my now ex-husband.

I never knew what love was before this. Not what “real” love was, anyway. I love my children more than life itself, but loving my partner, the person who is literally supposed to be my other half? Never found it until him. Now? Now I’m happy, I have more confidence in myself and my abilities than I ever have before, and I have a soulmate, best friend, lover, counselor, and partner - in every sense of the word - all rolled up into one. People always say that real love is hard work.

Maybe for some, it is. But for us? Loving his man is the easiest, most natural thing in the world. We don’t have to try. We just ARE. And it is amazing.

Ladies, if you’re trapped in a loveless relationship, or a one-sided relationship, or an abusive relationship (whether that be mentally, physically, emotionally, sexually, or any other type of abuse), take it from someone who’s been there. You are worth more than the way you’re being treated. You can survive on your own. You are strong enough to beat this and get past it. And there is someone out there who will love you exactly as you are, without asking for anything more from you than your love.

Take a chance. Take that risk, and go for it. You won’t regret it. Change is scary, but change can also bring about some of the most amazing things in our lives.