“As weeks went by, we continued to live together. I thought there was a chance we could get back together. Then I found he’d been holding online relationships with several women, sending pornographic videos, and arranging meet ups. He claimed it was because he had no self-confidence and needed people to flirt with.”
‘My boyfriend would sit on Tinder, sending sexts to women he’d hooked up with the night before. I still loved him and gave him the benefit of the doubt. It was the biggest mistake I ever made.’
‘I was in an abusive relationship. She was a lesbian with a man she didn’t love. I was falling for her. One day, she strolled up to me, a grin on her face. ‘I want to be with you.’
“I was shocked, confused, taken aback. I’d never been with a woman before. I stammered, stuttered, and turned into a blubbering mess. I listed all the reasons why it wouldn’t work. I was scared to admit my feelings. Then my mom told me something I’ll always remember.”
‘I told him I wasn’t ready to have a baby with him. He didn’t care and messed with my birth control. ‘We’re going to be together for the rest of our lives,’ he said. Needless to say, I got pregnant.’
“Things started to take a darker turn. I wasn’t allowed to go outside alone. He spread lies to my friends and family. When I gave birth, he wouldn’t let me see my child. He called 911 saying I was a danger to the baby. He got full custody.”
‘The ultrasound said, ‘It’s a girl!’ I cried on the way home and tried to hide my disappointment. I felt so guilty I couldn’t bond with her in the womb. My dream fell apart before my eyes.’
“I was holding on to some slender chance that the ultrasound tech was mistaken. I was afraid of having a little girl because of my mother. It would be impossible to have a relationship with my daughter. I was terrified.”
‘At 10, I ran away to the bus station. ‘Which goes farthest?’ I had no shoes, one shirt. I needed to find a place where he could never find me. I knew if he got hold of me, my life would be over.’
“I ended up 300 miles away. I was homeless, living in survival mode. A year in, strangers approached me and said, ‘We want to take you to school.’ I said yes, not really sure what I was agreeing to. Little did I know they were going to change my life forever.”
‘You catch this baby, or I will.’ My son’s father fainted. He woke up, saw our newborn, then left to smoke. He returned smelling of cheap beer and cigarettes.’
“‘I’m taking our son,’ he said. It was snowing and he was wasted. ‘He will not take my child like this.’ My grandmother walked in from church. ‘Take my son and lock yourself in your room!,’ I screamed. He got in his car and sped off, fish-tailing down the snow-covered road. Hours later, he returned.”
‘When I was 15, I was sent to a private boarding facility in the backwoods. I snuck out was roaming during the night. I was suddenly taken into a building far in the woods, the doors locking behind me.’
“For the next 2 years, I was ‘locked up’ with wire fences, an open bay dorm of girls in dresses. I was to say yes ma’am and no sir. Everything was taken from me. Our letters were censored. Girls who would cry would be forced to sit in a baby stool with a pacifier.”
‘My husband told me breast implants would help ‘spice things up’. I was 22 and wanted to feel feminine. I constantly found him viewing pornography, which made me feel undesirable.’
“My joints were swollen and I couldn’t wear my wedding ring anymore. My hair started falling out in chunks that would clog the drain. I figured it was just part of being a new mom and shook it off. No doctor could figure out what was wrong.”
‘He proposed. ‘You’ll NEVER find a man as good as me.’ I was ecstatic and terrified. Finally, we will be married and everything will be perfect. I was lucky to have him, because HE would still love me.’
“My hair started falling out. The scariest part was that from the outside, our relationship looked perfect. We were a good-looking couple. Young and vibrant. We had a wonderful social circle and took luxurious vacations. No one knew, including me.”
‘I got a text from him saying, ‘What are you smiling at?’ And I froze. The hair on the back of my neck stood up. Where was he?’
“When I was 14-years-old I met and dated a 22-year-old man. I’ll just let that sink in for a moment. He would come visit me, all the while living another life, leaving his wife and family behind. He was addicted to porn. Then came THAT morning.”
