How Did I Know When to Escape Domestic Violence?

I knew 18 months before I left I had to design a plan. I knew that it was up to me to rescue me and my five children. This is a snapshot of my experience. My book Pinpoints of Light; Escaping the Abyss of Abuse tells the rest of the story.

Click, click, and click. My eyes connected with my three boys as I snapped the last buckle into place. My head suddenly screamed at me. Two minutes left! I ran back inside and reached for my girls, innocent, pure, and ran out towards the van as I snuggle them close to muffle their cries. One minute left!

Everyone is in the van! I thought. Drive! Go! Now! I jumped behind the wheel and fired it up. I pulled down the gear lever into drive. Suddenly there was a pounding on the hood of my van and screaming for me to stop. I took my chance and punched it into reverse, throwing him off the van; I slammed it into drive and speeding around him out of the driveway and onto the street.

I drove away from the basement apartment, never to return to the abyss of abuse.

How did I know when to leave? How did I make my plan? One pinpoint at a time.

1. I acknowledged I was in abuse. His psychotic darkness was like a caged animal and would strike out at unpredictable moments, leaving his emotional, spiritual, and physical marks on my children and me.

2. Supporters. I learned to build a network of people and places that I could escape to. This took 18 months to build.

3. Financially. I became a teacher. I had hidden bank accounts. I had a plan. I had hope. AND We fled from his grasp. One. Pinpoint of light. At. A. Time.

Now that you are Out How Do You Help Others?

I share my story. I felt that nudge from above to write and encourage victims/survivors to get out and stay out. I started a movement called Pinpoints Across America. (More about this in another post). I lead women to share their healing stories. I shine as a beacon of light that they can get out, never return, and live the life of light and love.

We are gearing up for 31 days of Prevention with Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Join us! Your life will change.