What happened that made you decide to leave?
My kids were starting to treat me like an invisible person. They saw their father try to strangle me and saved me. I was alone, both parents dead, and could not leave my kids. I worked, but suddenly my husband went jealous – without reason – about a colleague. I took the chance to tell him that it was finished, and he listened for the first time. After 15 years of every possible abuse, I had the chance to recover my life and re-balance my kids’ lives also.
How did you feel about your abuser and/or your relationship in the days before you left?
He tried in any way to make me change my mind, then he told every common friend lies about me and applied all sort of pressure: unpaid bills, harassed me day and night,…
What three emotions did you most experience in the days closest to leaving Abuse? How did you deal with them?
- Excitement: I was so happy I could not sleep
- Positivism: Every morning was a great new day
- Love: For life, for my kids, for myself. We could BREATH
Well, after a couple of weeks of jumping throughout the house at any hour, cleaning, cooking, tidying, working like a spring, I realized that I could relax and enjoy…he was not coming back!!
What planning did you do before you left? Who knew you were leaving besides you?
No plans. I did all by myself and did not know there was a very good association nearby that could help.
What were the one or two BEST things you did before you left?
Nothing special. I just started to breathe again. Well, this IS the best thing 🙂
If there was anything you wish you had not done before you left, what was it?
I have no regrets.
How long ago did you leave? How do you feel today?
I left 8 years ago. I recovered – needed time, help and a new love. I live thankful for each day of this second life!
Is there anything else you would like to say?
Nobody should live the way I had to. No kid should save his mother’s life from his father’s attempt at ending it.
Are you abused? Submit your story of abuse and download this safety plan. Did you leave an abusive relationship? Tell us how you did it at How I Left Abuse.
This website holds exclusive rights to this story per its author’s instructions. It may not be used or reprinted in any other way. However, you may link to it.