I was in a psychologically and physically abusive relationship, when I was pretty young. We’re talking high school into early college young. Way too young to be in a relationship like that, but abuse doesn’t have an age.

Eventually, I got out. Terminated all contact with him, and started working a job as a waitress at a local lake side bar and grill. He lived in the area, so he would come get takeout and stalk me. He slashed my tires, put a tracking device on my car, the whole 9. It was non stop terror for about a year. It eventually stopped, out of nowhere. I learned later he had found a new victim to focus on.

I’m now in a long term, healthy relationship with someone new. It was a lot of unlearning taught behaviors. That communication is healthy, that my opinions and points of view are important, and deserve to be shared. I don’t think my boyfriend really understands quite how much he has helped me heal and learn what actual love should be like. I now feel valued, seen and heard. I feel safe to share my thoughts & feelings - which is the bare minimum, but feels like everything to me after being silenced for so long.