Fighting Words

I wrote this in early May, before the death of George Floyd, the protests, and the spotlight shining on our severely broken criminal justice system. I had to get approval from my attorney before posting it, which I have now obtained. This was one of the most difficult things I have ever written, probably the most difficult thing in the last 5 years at least. It is all true and it is all still ongoing. If you needed anymore stories of how messed up our system is, here is mine... I'd like to paint a picture for you, and I'd like to see how you feel about it when I am done: Imagine you are home with your spouse/significant other. You are in the lower level of the house and he is in the upper level. You are avoiding each other, because your partner has been a stranger to you over the past month, and in the past week he has done things you never imagined he would do. Some of those things are illegal, abusive, and coercive; and you are afraid of the person you love. You have not been...

I wrote this many years ago...but it seems as though that voice in my head never goes away, no matter how much I achieve or how many years pass. For every person out there who has suffered abuse of any kind...you are not alone. I love you. And you are good enough. He Said... "Why don't you ever listen? Why not do exactly as I say? You know if you'd just act right I'd stop treating you this way. I'll hurt you like you want me to In all the places that won't bruise And I'm not being sick and sadistic I'm showing you how much I love you. No one else could ever love you I'm the best you'll ever have You're nothing but a lying whore Why the fuck are you so sad? Did I hurt your pathetic feelings? Did I break your cheating heart? Do I make you want to kill yourself And tear your sorry little world apart? I know you think I'll change someday That I'll soften up and give a shit But what foolish, naive hopes you have They are the delusions of ...