I handed over the medical records and the photographs of the bruising along with screenshots of every threatening message I had received.
The officer who took my statement seemed completely unfazed by the details of the assault as if he had heard this story a thousand times before.
“Do you feel like you are in a safe environment if you return to your home tonight?” he asked with a chilling calmness.
I thought about Brenda’s hands on my skin and Bill’s boot connecting with my body while my husband watched in silence.
“No, I do not feel safe at all and I am terrified that this is only the beginning of their retaliation,” I replied.
I signed the official complaint with a hand that would not stop shaking despite my best efforts to remain composed.
That was the very first step in reclaiming my life, but the night would bring a discovery that would finish what was left of my marriage.
I discovered the ultimate betrayal when I checked our shared computer and realized that Owen had been talking to them behind my back the entire time.
Two days later, Owen arrived at my sister Holly’s house where I had sought refuge with nothing but a suitcase and a heart full of lead.