I was constantly called names, such as “slut”, and “whore”, and “shithead”. Some are too profane to be heard. He broke down my self esteem to absolutely nothing, and walked all over it. I was told that I wasn’t the reason for his anger, but because he grew up without a dad, he had pent up feelings that he ended up taking out on me. He always claimed he’d change. He was extremely jealous, and made me burn all the bridges I ever made, and he had something bad to say about everyone I loved. He used to lose his temper very quickly, and would stand me up, and never return my calls. Soon enough, I was blamed for his emotional state, and would blame me when he would mistreat me and lose his temper.

 Ex- “If you hadn’t done that, I wouldn’t have screamed at you.”

I used to pick and choose what I would say to him, just to hope I didn’t set off the ticking time bomb. He used to threaten to exploit me, and would make jokes that would demean, embarrass, and humiliate me in front of his friends.

            Only a few times had things gotten physical. Once or twice, he’d push me down, and a few times I’d get bruises and cuts from the way he’d rip me around, or grab me.

By the fourth month, I knew I needed to end this relationship.

I got help from family and friends, many of which had no clue that Kyle was abusing me physically, emotionally, and verbally this whole entire time. I began the detoxifying process that is separation. He did not approve of this at all. He began to harass me, constantly calling my cell phone, showing up at my house, breaking into my house when my parents weren’t home, crying outside my house, refusing to leave, having his mother come talk to my parents, always messaging me, and making multiple Instant Messaging accounts because I kept blocking all of them.

On one occasion, I went to the beach with two of my friends, both girls. He followed us down there, and watched us lay there for about twenty minutes. He then began to call my name, my cell phone, and walk over to me, trying to get me to “simply talk to him”, and to “have the decency to at least talk to him”. I refused, and he threw sand on my friends and me.  When I tried to tell him to go home, he pinned me against a tree, dislocating my wrists.

It has been six months since I separated myself from Kyle. I’ve begun dating my best friend, David, who has shown me what a healthy relationship is. By having communication, trust, respect, and forgiveness, I am happy and well today.

** Name changed for Privacy.