I have read a lot of statistics and personal testimonies about Domestic Violence situations. Mostof us know the patterns. Most of us are familiar with the statistics. Oftentimes statistics are onlynumbers unless you or someone you know have become one and have lived that hell personally.Many of us have, including myself. While we can, and should, do our part as individuals, and asgroups, to lobby for protection, for support, and for awareness, we also need to realize that, asdifficult as it may seem, each of us has been given free will. While it may seem the most difficultthing to accept that we maintain some control of our destiny in most cases- especially after yearsof being told otherwise- it is ultimately the most empowering realization. I know it was for me. Asa victim of the most extreme forms of physical and verbal domestic abuse for six years- havingbeen beaten bloody on a regular basis; having been raped and inhumanly tortured almost daily- Icame to a point where I knew that while I had support from friends and family, it was ultimatelyme alone who would make the final decision to walk away from something that wasn't right andcould no longer continue. That was probably the most difficult thing for me to do in my wholelife. I always believed that marriage is something you do not take lightly. I took the words "...tilldeath do us part" literally up to that point. My children- whom I loved and cherished more thananything in the world- were the product of this marriage. Up until I made this difficult decision, Ithought it was my duty to God, and to my family to continue things as they were. Until I realizedthat "..till death do us part" took on a whole new meaning. If I had stayed this man would havekilled me. Each beating escalated to the point that I was convinced this man will end my life atsome point had I stayed. Imagine how I felt the day I decided that I needed to walk away for myown safety and for the safety of my childre...
