there are many-too many-families that are irreparably damaged.

This book is a first-person account of what it takes to survive sexual assault, emotional abuse, and long-term harassment by an intimate partner. It takes the reader through the fear and anguish, the hiding and moving, and the journey through the court system to finally achieve justice and safety for the author and her children.

Few of us can imagine that we could allow ourselves to fall victim to this kind of abuse, and this book is a perfect illustration of how a strong and confident woman can go from being on the verge of meeting her career goals to being under the control of a man who is not what he seemed, and who ultimately damaged her physical and mental health, her ability to support herself, and her sense of trust and safety in the world.

But this is also a story of hope: you CAN escape an abusive relationship; you CAN ask for help and be believed; you CAN keep your children safe; you CAN bring your abuser to justice through the courts; and you CAN come out the other side to happiness and safety.