I am a firm believer in the “honeymoon phase.” This is, for most, at the beginning of a new relationship. Typically, one or both persons is overly, and in some cases falsely sensitive, compassionate, thoughtful and polite, which influences the other to believe that they are going to be together in this state of perfect bliss forever (or as long as the relationship lasts, more realistically.) That’s how my relationship started out – it seemed as though he was perfect for me. He treated me with respect and was honest and gentle. He never raised his voice and the thought o

On February 28th, after he had been on a 5-day drug binge during which he did not contact me in any way or come home, we had an argument at a friend’s house. The argument ended with him beating me so severely I had to be hospitalized, and his arrest. At that time, as much as it hurt me, I knew I had to take a stand and leave him. I pressed charges, filed for a restraining order and sent him to jail for 2 and a half years for assault and battery, a sentence of which he only served six months.

and that it would pass. I told myself that this wasn’t really him and at times even convinced myself that I was responsible for the abuse he subjected me to. Because I didn’t leave him when I should have, he learned from experience that he could continue to act the way he did and I would remain there, tolerating it. Toward the end, he was fired from his job due to failure to cooperate and/ or show up and therefore became homeless because the house he lived in was reserved for the company he worked for. At the same time, I was kicked out of my parents’ house because I hadn’t broken

Some topics in this essay:
, abusive relationship, rent groceries,