Safety

Jane ran for her life and  hid in the yard. She was so scared he would find her really and hurt her. Her ears were pricked to hear if he would head to her girl’s room, heart pounding so hard it was impairing her hearing, blood thumping through her ears.  After many outbursts of rage, if he couldn’t get any pleasure or satisfaction from abusing Jane, he'd head for her girl’s room. He knew there was no better way to hurt Jane than hurt her children. Jane was always so conflicted – does she go to the girl’s room and protect them? If she goes to their room, will she lead her abuser there? What to do? Does she just stay here? Maybe he will simmer down...the fear and thoughts swirling around, ten to the dozen. 

Thank goodness, this time he didn’t go to the girl’s room. But Jane stayed outside in the cold and pouring rain until he settled down. Their living arrangements were substandard to say the least. Jane’s abuser was living in a granny flat on their property, so she knew when things were settled, he would close the door to the granny flat; it was very noisy and had a very loud squeak, and could be heard from quite a distance. Finally, when Jane heard the door shut, she snuck into her girl’s room and jumped into bed with them. They were all safe – for now.  

You know we women are so much more worthy of a life of love, peace, joy and harmony. Living like this was pure survival. In actual fact, almost any other living arrangements would have been a step up from this. Jane was hanging on for the crumbs of affection he sometimes scattered to her like a seagull, only to get what he wanted. This was inhumane, abuse at its peak.

I know you can't see your way out of your situation. Maybe your situation is different to Jane’s but just as damning, degrading and horrific. You know deep in your heart there has to be a better life out there for you. This is not what you were put on this earth for, surely! Life could not be this cruel. You often see a glimmer of hope in the way a flower blooms so perfect in form, so free in the wind, or the pure sweetness in a bird's song.  

Trust me when I say, there is a way out. You don’t have to live like this. You are a beautiful human who deserves so much more. Someone to tell you how special you are, love you back as hard as you love them, to share in a life of fullness and pure ecstasy. I'm here to share with you Jane’s road to freedom. 

STEP 1

Have a safety plan.

STEP 2

Know that there is always someone to talk to, even in the middle of the night.

STEP 3

If you do reach out and phone someone, when you've finished the call, delete it from your phone log. Your abuser is always checking on you, even when you don’t know it!

Image Credit: Ben White, Unsplash