I saw the signs…friends pointed out the signs…I ignored the signs. I wanted him more than those things I thought could be overlooked or in my mind…fixed. Surely he loves me enough to want to change those things, why he even asked me to help him overcome his jealousy.
Awww!! How sweet, see, he wants to change. No, not how sweet. He asked me to fix what was never mine to take on. I allowed him to use me as a scapegoat in the moments he knew he would lose control. I wasn’t helping; I was giving him license to let the monster loose.
The problem here is, I didn’t create his inferior complex. I didn’t create his insane jealous tendencies. They came with him; baggage from previous relationships that he hadn’t dealt with but instead brought with him into a brand new relationship. Of course, they were going to leak into us and I did nothing to stop it, I fed it by complying with his wishes. But, I was helping him, that’s how I justified the outrageous requests.
It started out small. He gained my trust by being the “perfect” boyfriend. I was broken from my previous relationship and so what better way to get over it than by diving head first into another. Isn’t that what it’s all about these days? Jump from person to person, dragging all your stuff along with you? Why would you want to take time to deal with things and recover when you can jump onto the next train? Who’s got time for that nonsense? All aboard the “don’t deal with things” train and let’s see how many bodies I can drag behind me.
Within 6 months we were living together in an awesome house secluded away from just about everyone we knew. He watched every move I made. Everything I did he wanted to be a part of. Awwww!! How sweet was that?! I mean, after all, I finally had someone who wanted to do all the things I liked. But after we moved in, he said my friends weren’t so great…those people at my job didn’t really appreciate me for who I was and I should look into getting another one. All signs.
Friends at worked noticed the jealousy, made comments about them. Oh, I would say, I know, I’m helping him deal with that. All of a sudden the things I wore were up for scrutiny..where or who gave you that? I learned to lie. When I wanted to go home for lunch, he asked me to call him when I left work, call him when I got to the house…you know to ensure I got there safely, call when I left to go back to work and yes, call him when I actually arrived at work. This was all to “help him.” Once he knew he could trust me, this type of insanity would stop.
It didn’t stop. It kept getting worse. The more I played into his game, the more controlling he got. He started showing up unexpectedly at the house to see if I was really there. His anger would flare up over the tiniest of things and I found myself over compensating with every move so as to not anger him. I was walking around on those proverbial egg shells trying to be “perfect” but it didn’t matter. There was always something. And yet I stayed…after all, I was helping, right?
He started blocking my path when I would go to leave the room during arguments. It was a power play. Sometimes it worked, but mostly, I didn’t tolerate that. I never had any space to myself. He was always there. If I tried doing my crafting hobby, he would eventually call out to me to quit and come sit next to him and watch his shows. Remember, when I said how cute it was that he liked everything I did? It was a lie. After we moved in, all bets were off.
I’d like to say the first time he shoved me down and pulled some of my hair out, I left. I’d like to say that when the police were called I was told they would arrest him, but I can’t. See, I pushed him back and now it became a “he said, she said” story. He could just as easily press charges against me as I could him. Sad, dontcha think? So my choice I learned that night, was to let him abuse me and not push back.
To my shock and horror and even embarrassment, I let him come back. It was pretty good for awhile but my guard was on high alert now. It was the night he told me I was the worst mistake he ever made after I asked him “what happened to the guy I moved in with?” that I had enough. I gave him 11 months of my life and I was told I was the biggest mistake he ever made. That sat with me a long time. It didn’t matter I had friends who loved me and cared for me and told me otherwise. I found myself repeating that over and over and over. But you know what? That man did not make me. That man does not define me. That man did not defeat me.
I don’t know where you are, how far you’ve let him or her beat you down. I don’t know how much more you’re willing to take. Only you can decide that. I don’t know why you think you deserve a love that treats you with such disrespect. It’s different for each of us that allow “the love” of someone to beat us into the person they think we need to be. A footstool for them step on.
Funny, he even told me once that when he first met me, he knew I would need to be taken down a peg or two. And yet, I moved in with him. I swept all the warning signs under the rug because I didn’t want to be alone. Because being with him was so much better? Please, let me live alone as I never want that mess back in my life. I was made for more. You are made for more.
That abuser did not make you. That abuser does not define you. That abuser will not defeat you. You are not alone. You are not helpless. You are a beautiful human being whose light has been snuffed out because your abuser is a coward of the worst kind. A bully who has no self control and only feels empowered by your weakness. It’s a shame really, because they aren’t happy people. They’re twisted up in knots and though they might want to change, they choose not to.
And why should they? They can blame you for their inadequacies. You become their scapegoat, their enabler and the reason they don’t need to change. Scoff at that if you will, but it’s true.
It takes more strength to leave than to stay. You have to make a choice and know that you are worthy of so much more. God didn’t create you for this. He created you to do the good works he planned for you; not to succumb to a coward who wants to beat you into submission. How do I know? Because God doesn’t lie and His word says, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” ~~Ephesians 2:10 You can’t do those good works, bound up in chains of oppression. You have to take your life back. You have to make a choice. What are you waiting for?
Blessed to be Broken 
love you
Love you too Kathy!
Your writing is amazing…I love this. Thank you!
Thank you for your words of encouragement Kim. I appreciate that you stopped by, it truly means a lot to me. Be blessed friend!
Thank you, Trish, for tough words for tough times. We often don’t realize what’s happened to us on the inside, until the damage is done. Thankfully, the LORD is our faithful Helper and Healer. Praying HIS blessings to you and through you…………. It’s gonna be a GREAT year!
You’re welcome Charlsie, and thank you for your words of encouragement and for taking some time out of your day to stop by my blog. It’s my prayer, that the sharing of the trials the good Lord brought me safely through will give hope to thousands of others who have forgotten who our Creator made them to be. To Him be the glory!!
Beautiful story. I know this story is going to serve as an amazing testimony to many in abusiness relationship. Thank you for your transparency and willingness to share restoration story with others. Love you dearly my friend
Thank you for your encouraging words Sharon. I pray it helps someone escape the bonds of oppression in their own life and know there we have a God who is mighty to save who calls us His children and loves us with an everlasting love. Love you tons friend!!
You’re a brave, incredible woman. I’m proud to be your friend.
Thank you Sue!!! I appreciate your kind words and I’m proud to be your friend as well. We’ve been through some stuff you and I, but it didn’t defeat us. God carried us through to the other side. Much love to you!!
That was my life to a tee 16 years ago. WOW, I got into sobriety w that man, then got enough sobriety & God in my life & women in my life & realized what my lif had become. But I lived that way for many years w many different men. Your story was so mine. Thank my Higher Power that guided me down my present path. Thank you Jesus for my life today.