Domestic Violence is something that I never thought I would experience in my lifetime. I surround myself with people that I care about and to see something so painfully tragic affect one of them, let alone myself was inconceivable. But even the inconceivable can happen, and for that reason and so many more, I welcome awareness on this topic and do not mind sharing my experience. It started with just words. He wouldn’t let her feel as though she could accomplish things on her own. She would try to do something as simple as fill the dishwasher and he would come over and say “that’s not how you do it, let me show you.” And, “What would you do without me.” Hearing this was awkward but it wasn’t anything I thought I should talk to her about. I
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As it happened more frequently instead of telling him that she could do it by herself she just stayed quiet because I could tell she didn’t want to argue, especially in front of friends. I wish I would’ve known what to look for. Honestly this has been one of the hardest lessons I’ve ever had to learn in my life and I cannot even imagine what it was like for her. To be so in love with someone that you are willing to overlook the complete decomposition of who you are as a person is something I pray never happens to anyone else. This breakdown of her as a person was the first step into becoming ok with what was going to happen next. Words cannot describe how thankful I am she reached out. She had accidentally dropped her phone and the screen cracked. He had blown up, saying how clumsy and stupid she was. She texted me asking for me to pick her up because she just couldn’t be there and he had her car keys. I pulled into her driveway, she came running out wearing a black short sleeved dress. It was dark so I couldn’t see her until she got into my car and was telling me to drive. I backed out of the driveway and looked to my right. Her face was bloody, two large bruises on her left arm, left eye swollen …show more content…
I drove, she talked. I let her tell me how she felt about everything that had happened, how, this wasn’t the first time. As she was explaining the previous incidents she would say things like, “but I really shouldn’t have talked back.” or “I was pretty clumsy dropping that.” To me I couldn’t comprehend these excuses. I couldn’t understand how she could still have any feelings besides hate for someone who had treated her so badly. That’s when my phone started blowing up. Constant text after text and call after call asking where we were and what we were doing. I specifically remember checking my phone and seeing 83 phone missed calls that night. I took her to a hotel. Made her take a shower and cleaned her up as best I could with the first aid kit from my car. After she was asleep I knew I couldn’t let this slide. I called the cops and reported what had happened. She was furious. She had wanted to make up with him and had trusted me not to say anything to anyone. It was hard dealing with the aftermath. Life seemed to go on a day by day basis but looking back I have only one real regret. I regret that I didn’t know the signs of an abusive relationship sooner. I regret that I wasn’t able to save my friend from over two years of violence and
As it happened more frequently instead of telling him that she could do it by herself she just stayed quiet because I could tell she didn’t want to argue, especially in front of friends. I wish I would’ve known what to look for. Honestly this has been one of the hardest lessons I’ve ever had to learn in my life and I cannot even imagine what it was like for her. To be so in love with someone that you are willing to overlook the complete decomposition of who you are as a person is something I pray never happens to anyone else. This breakdown of her as a person was the first step into becoming ok with what was going to happen next. Words cannot describe how thankful I am she reached out. She had accidentally dropped her phone and the screen cracked. He had blown up, saying how clumsy and stupid she was. She texted me asking for me to pick her up because she just couldn’t be there and he had her car keys. I pulled into her driveway, she came running out wearing a black short sleeved dress. It was dark so I couldn’t see her until she got into my car and was telling me to drive. I backed out of the driveway and looked to my right. Her face was bloody, two large bruises on her left arm, left eye swollen …show more content…
I drove, she talked. I let her tell me how she felt about everything that had happened, how, this wasn’t the first time. As she was explaining the previous incidents she would say things like, “but I really shouldn’t have talked back.” or “I was pretty clumsy dropping that.” To me I couldn’t comprehend these excuses. I couldn’t understand how she could still have any feelings besides hate for someone who had treated her so badly. That’s when my phone started blowing up. Constant text after text and call after call asking where we were and what we were doing. I specifically remember checking my phone and seeing 83 phone missed calls that night. I took her to a hotel. Made her take a shower and cleaned her up as best I could with the first aid kit from my car. After she was asleep I knew I couldn’t let this slide. I called the cops and reported what had happened. She was furious. She had wanted to make up with him and had trusted me not to say anything to anyone. It was hard dealing with the aftermath. Life seemed to go on a day by day basis but looking back I have only one real regret. I regret that I didn’t know the signs of an abusive relationship sooner. I regret that I wasn’t able to save my friend from over two years of violence and