when i was 14, i started dating my best friend. i was so ridiculously happy. he treated me like a princess, & i was so in love. we got along so well, it was as if we had been made for each other. one day, something changed. he became extremely manipulative. he would tell me that i was beautiful & that he loved me, just so i would do what he wanted. i didn’t, at first. not until he hit me. at first, it was just a playful slap; but then he hit me again & with much more force. he hit me again, & again. he hit me a total of four times. i was stunned; who was this violent person & what had he done with the peaceful boy i fell in love with? so i did it. i had sex with him, because i didn’t want him to hurt me. i lost my virginity for fear of being hit, or worse. i didn’t protest anymore when he asked to have sex. once in a while, i would express reluctance; whenever i did, he would slam me into a wall, punch me, call me names. i was miserable, but i didn’t know how to get out. how can you leave someone who will hit you when you try to get away? after i turned sixteen, things took a turn for the worse. he became increasingly violent, for no particular reason. the slightest things would provoke him, and i’d end up going home with bruises because he “didn’t like the outfit i was wearing”. one day, i was at his house cooking dinner with his brother. his brother is so amazing, & he’s one of the greatest people i know. as we were cooking, i noticed my boyfriend staring at me in an absolutely terrifying way. i tried to ignore it, but it was impossible to ignore him once his brother left. we were completely alone at his house. he asked to do “the usual”, but this time, i was done. i couldn’t do it anymore. i finally made an attempt to fight back. i punched him, i kicked him, i screamed as loud as i could. before i knew what was happening, he pulled out a pocket knife & slashed my wrist. i started sobbing and ran home. my parents weren’t home, so i managed to clean the wound & cover it up. i wore long sleeves until it healed well enough to uncover it. that was the end. a few weeks after that, he broke up with me for another girl. they’re set to get married in a few months, & i’ve been invited to the wedding. needless to say, i will not be attending. i am now seventeen years old. i have a hard time trusting anyone now, because of the way i was abused for two years. even the people who claimed to be my best friends turned their backs on me. there is one person i trust, though. he’s shown me that none of this was my fault, that i can’t blame myself for what happened, & that there are people i can count on. i trust him more than i trust anyone. up until yesterday, i had never told anyone about the abuse. he is the first person that i’ve ever told, & i don’t regret it. thanks to him, i’ve been set free. i love him so much. i’m here telling my story because i know that i’m not the only girl that’s been through this. if you’re reading this & you’re a victim of abuse, don’t lose hope. it will end. things will get better. and someone out there loves you
↧
I've been set free
↧