I'm so relieved that your main character didn't get stabbed in the end - when she had the knife and he was coming at her, I was certain he was going to use the knife on her. I'm so glad she got out. Like many people, I know women who didn't get out of relationships with abusers. One of my dear college friends was murdered by her abusive boyfriend a few decades back and this brought back all of those memories. What made it worse was that none of us had any idea she was being abused - distance will do that, but she'd become so good at putting on a happy face that even her friends that she saw regularly had no idea.
Anyhow, really powerful entry.
I don't know if many of the fans of this song by Pearl Jam know that its about a woman justifying why she stays in an abusive relationship. The second section of your piece reminded me of it a bit:
I love that song. My dad used to play it all the time, but it wasn't until I was much older that I really got what it meant.
I'm so sorry to hear about your friend. I, thankfully, did not write this from personal experience, but rather from watching someone very close to me in an abusive relationship, so I can understand some of your feelings (especially about her putting on a happy face and hiding the truth). Her SO was so charming. He made it so that none of her friends or family members could believe he would do something so vile even when the signs started to show. I felt guilty for a long time, but the truth is that abusers are often master manipulators. She was able to eventually confide in us and get out, but as you know not everyone is that lucky. I would feel so lucky if my piece helped or educated one reader.
Thank you so much for reading and sharing your experiences as well <3
Comments 14
Anyhow, really powerful entry.
I don't know if many of the fans of this song by Pearl Jam know that its about a woman justifying why she stays in an abusive relationship. The second section of your piece reminded me of it a bit:
Reply
I'm so sorry to hear about your friend. I, thankfully, did not write this from personal experience, but rather from watching someone very close to me in an abusive relationship, so I can understand some of your feelings (especially about her putting on a happy face and hiding the truth). Her SO was so charming. He made it so that none of her friends or family members could believe he would do something so vile even when the signs started to show. I felt guilty for a long time, but the truth is that abusers are often master manipulators. She was able to eventually confide in us and get out, but as you know not everyone is that lucky. I would feel so lucky if my piece helped or educated one reader.
Thank you so much for reading and sharing your experiences as well <3
Reply
Leave a comment