We are arguing in the kitchen. I don’t recall over what. Surely something minor. I am at the stove. He reaches over and pinches my arm and holds the pinch until I cringe in pain. With my free hand I try to slap his hand away and pull free. I go into the hall bathroom, the closest place to escape.
He follows me. He always followed me.
I try to quickly close the door behind me but he forces it open. It is narrow. Trying to ignore him, I move away towards the linen closet. He shoves me against the wall, his hand pressing on my chest. I think I am a big woman, he cannot hurt me. But he is hurting me. I see my daughter in the hallway, a wide eyed toddler, observing curiously. I don’t move. I am absolutely still, and silent. I don’t fight back because I don’t want to upset her. My eyes stare into his, defiantly.
When his hand moves to my throat and he begins to choke me, I stare at him. I will not look away, thinking- you will know who I am, and my beloved daughter will be watching when you kill me. I worry about who will take care of her, and our son, still a baby; the children I share with this stranger who is strangling me. And I begin to fight back. I reach up around his arm and dig my nails into his skin, drawing blood, eyes locked into his, still silent. (years later in marriage counseling he recalls only my nails, nothing in context as to defending myself)
He finally releases. I push by him and sweep a still quiet wide eyed child in my arms down the hall and go for the phone to call the police.
He screams at me- You would have your children watch their father get arrested? I bark back – Do you realize what your children have just witnessed? He regains composure and dismissively says Go ahead and call, it’s my word against yours. No one will believe you, as he holds up wrists and hands I have bloodied trying to break free.
I, the smart, successful, spunky woman he used to love, put the phone down. No one will believe me. He, the likeable friendly guy who would help anyone and everyone but us. Respected and thought of highly. He is right. No one will believe me.
There are no tears. I’d exchanged the ability to cry for the strength to survive.
I did not have the luxury to mourn with two children who needed their mother.
I would not give him the satisfaction of my tears even if I could have conjured them.
Now a lifetime of tears stand ready to tumble at any given moment. As I awake this morning, maybe having dreamed of him, this scene plays in my head. Those unshed tears, the acuity of a premonition our daughter would watch as he tried to kill me, flood me.
I get out of bed. Grateful for a merciful God who has given me another chance.
I do the next thing. I write. I tell my secret.
‘Leave all your love and your longing behind you can’t carry it with you if you want to survive.’ Florence Welsh
Shameless Survivors 
Very, very difficult to share. A truth I shoved down and hid away. I didn’t want anyone to know. I didn’t want to know.
Keep telling it. What was once your deep well of shame and grief will become your fountain of courage and wellness. You are a big woman –big heart, big wisdom. We all need to hear this. God bless you.
Lisette, you are an amazing woman, loved and adored by God. You are His daughter. Bless you for sharing your “secret”.
I would have believed you, and the police would have too, you’d be surprised…
Once again I am awed and humbled by your courageous honesty and feel that the more you tell your story, the more women and children you lift up and save, yourself and your children, and many others you might never meet. I believe you. I honor you.
No hands on my around my throat for my daughter to see but she saw none the less. We learned, didn’t we, Lizette, that our strength and intellect had nothing to do with what they did to us. We misplaced our voices and lead those lives where threats and violence ruled, where a “loving” man was one who bought stuff or acted dear in front of others…and then, they put their hands on us or screamed at us or told us we would be destroyed.
We wept and still weep and we survived through the grace of God. We tell our stories and hopefully other women hear that abuse is not acceptable. I love you, dear friend….and we have beautiful daughters who will also survive, through the grace of God.
This made me cry reading this tonight. Thank you so much for your blog and your posts. I left an abusive marriage of 2 years around a year and a half ago and I am still find the memories very painful. One memory of mine also started in the kitchen and ended up in my racing to the bathroom to hide, but he forced his way in and pushed me over and over into the bathtub. I pray that I find someone in my area I can talk to more because I still feel like I need to share my story more to move forward. God bless 🙂
I believe those of us who are out and safe to share our stories affirm others they are not alone and give them hope. Helping others move forward helps us process where we were and how far we’ve come. I encourage you to write. When you are ready tell your story. Break the silence.