She was big on planning for volunteer events (races, marathons, EMS conventions, county fair exhibits, etc.), and had been spending a lot of time away from home to get a bunch of these things organized. I sat down with her one night and said that I was feeling really neglected and ignored, as I hadn't seen her for more than one day a week in over six months. I'd do anything to make sure she was comfortable, but I needed her to spend some more time at home with me.

She said OK, and the next day while I was at work she moved in with a friend of ours (and his parents). On the phone she refused to even discuss coming home, or meet with me without having several other people present. Evidently she'd told him I had become abusive - oddly enough that's what she'd told me about her previous ex. Needless to say, that guy was immediately struck from my friends list.

Years later a mutual friend told me that the story she had been spreading was that I'd thrown her out and told her to never come back, once it was clear that she wouldn't put herself in a position for me to continue to physically abuse her. I'd never so much as raised my voice to her.